“Badass!”, is something we say to each other among my running friends to acknowledge a new achievement, show encouragement, and just to have some laughs.
A few years ago, if you asked me to write about myself, I’d struggle locating the words that would fit my identity. Today, I know exactly who I am and what I need to do to bring out that radiant person in me that I believe we all have.
I am a single mom, a full time educator, and a runner. I love each part that forms my identity and brings many joyful smiles. At the age of 36 I feel grateful to be where I am today.
Running played a significant role in this transformation. Now, the trick is to keep all these wonderful things balanced and enjoy life.
How did it all begin: never being much of a runner, one day, when feeling incredibly frustrated, I put on my old sneakers I owned for years (that’s how little I used them) and went for a run. My body protested with aching and complaining of the massive discomfort I was putting it through, but my mind proved to be stronger.
The frustration eased up with every run and I began looking forward to getting to the park after work to complete my “Couch to 5K” training plan. As time and miles went on and I build stamina for longer runs, life didn’t seem to be so serious any more, things didn’t seem to get to me as much, and my mentality began a transformation to positive thinking. Things in life started falling into places without me having to control anything. All I had to do was go for a run.
Running became a form of companion, a way to express myself, and a place of contentment where my thoughts and my legs could run wild and free.
5Ks turned into 50Ks, roads switched to trails, and I owned more running shoes. I joined local running clubs, met some amazing people, and ran at some beautiful places.
I am grateful for the friends I met along this journey: parents, who inspired me with love and dedication for their children, educators who became wonderful role models and thoughtful colleagues, and runners who showed me what a crazy, determined, and stubborn breed of our own we were.
This season, about a year and a half since the start of this “running phase” that doesn’t seem to phase out, I am setting a new personal goal: to run a race in all 50 states and Washington DC. I feel that running somewhere new creates a special personal connection to that place, allows to meet runners from other areas and visit old friends, and gives me an undeniably good reason to travel to a new destination.
This blog will be dedicated to this new journey, state by state, race by race, friend by friend. I find it that for me personally, running is so much more than just another race.
Truthfully yours,
Irina D.
Running Across the States 