Misstropolis

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Outrageous Spirit

by Terri Rutter

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Aaah, a sunny day in the middle of the winter; a rare gift at any time, but for me, today, it’s especially sweet. I ran 7.5 miles today—a beautiful route from my house in Roslindale along the Arborway and then around the Fens. To the diehard runner, 7 miles may not seem that remarkable. But for me, today is a milestone in an 18-week training regimen to run my first ever-half marathon. When I registered for the run—which is April 6--back in December, I was barely able to finish 1.5 miles without walking at least part of it. The prospect of a 3-mile long-distance run brought fear. But I registered anyway, and laced up my sneakers.

Why? Believe me. There hasn’t been a run since, long or short, during which at some point as I huffed and puffed along, I haven’t asked myself, “Why in the world am I doing this?” This is…outrageous! But, in the end, that’s the point. It is outrageous. I’m 43 years old—not too old to run, sure, but a lot older than I was when I ran regularly more than 13 years ago. And even then—in my more toned and svelte body (such that it was) I only averaged about 3-4 miles per run. The furthest I have ever gone “way back then” was 8 miles; next Sunday, I will match that distance, and if I can, I will go a little beyond it. The following week, I will run 9 miles; the week after that, I will attempt 10. Crazy talk.

Again. Why? Maybe the best answer is “Why not?” At age 43, I am embracing, probably for the first time in my life, the idea of being outrageous. After an entire career working in large nonprofit organizations, I took a year-long detour to go to culinary school, graduated with honors and launched a short-lived catering business, then returned to what I really know best - communications, writing, and editing - but without the safety net of a steady paycheck or the luxury of paid vacations. In August last year, I started my own business. I’m not sure which of these pursuits is more ridiculous: pulling on a pair of lycra pants and heading out in the midst of a snow squall or setting up a makeshift office in my dining room with a 5-year-old laptop computer and a half-way decent list of contacts.

Training for a half-marathon and who knows, maybe next year, a full marathon! for me, is about setting outrageous goals for myself. It’s also why I wanted to start this blog. Maybe you have an outrageous goal or two of your own, but you’re not quite being outrageous enough or ridiculous enough! to start moving in that direction. Sometimes, my goal is just getting past the thought that this - all of this - is ridiculous. Sometimes I am more ambitious: breaking six figures on my own; running a consistent 10-minute mile, the whole way, without walking just once.

The running is just one goal, but, accomplishing it demands immediate attention: I must run every week the number of miles scheduled for that week. I can say I don’t want to until my breath runs dry and I can use every excuse in the book to not run (it’s too cold, it’s too icy, I don’t feel good, I’m tired, it’s a bad hair day) but, eventually, it will catch up to me and then when I finally do get out there, it will really feel like s—t.

So, I run. Even when I don’t want to. Even when I don’t feel well. Even when it’s cold and icy. Period. I run. I’m doing the same in my business. If I want this to all work out, then I must work when I don’t always want to, make calls I don’t feel like making, write when there are no words left in my head. Outrageous goals take action. Sometimes, the action is just getting past my own excuses for inaction. Tomorrow, I’ll take a break; it’s ok, it’s a scheduled part of the training regimen. The next day, I’ll run again.