What would your age be??

Recently I read a question that came at a time in my life that I needed it most. The question was "How old would you be if you didn't know how old you were?" Good Question!! I am always amazed when God throws something at me at a time in my life when I need it most! Anyway at the young age of 44 I decided that I was going to become a runner. I had been dabbling in running for about 6-7 years, but nothing really serious. I decided though that I wanted to become serious. So I did what most, sane, 44 year old women do when they want to become serious runners..........I signed up to run the Chicago Marathon! In order to stay committed to this new goal of mine, I signed up to run with Team in Training. This group is connected with the Leukemia-Lymphoma Society and they train people to participate for several different endurance events, while in return, the athlete raises money for the Society. Raising money and telling every person I know that I am running in a marathon was the kick I needed to keep me going. I did run, and finish, the marathon. I did not set any new records with a time of 4:56, but I did set my own record, and was onto becoming that serious runner.

I have continued to run since completing that Marathon last Oct. I have completed a few 5k races, and last month completed the Lewis and Clark Half-Marathon. For the time being, I have decided that 26.2 miles is not a distance I want to repeat, but it did get me motivated to keep running. Which brings me back to the question of "What age would I be if I did not know how old I was?" While training for the half marathon, I kept thinking that at the age of now 45, I was too old to be doing this. Sure, I know there are lots of people who run that are older than me, but did they really start at the age of 44?? So the thoughts running thru my head kept saying "you should have started 10 years ago, why get serious now, you're too slow, too heavy....etc etc". But the fact of the matter was, and is, that I enjoy running! I enjoy setting a goal and accomplishing it. So what about the age???

Then last week I received an article online about runners. In a nutshell, the article was telling about a 93, YES 93! year old man who just completed a marathon in 5:40. He began running at the age of 81 because he was bored and needed something to do! Another man who completed the same race in 2:56 was the ripe young age of 73!! Then came the question....."What age would you be if you did not know how old you were?" Wham! I felt that like I was hit upside the head! Suddenly it did not matter just how old I am or at what age I decided to set new goals for myself. The important thing is that I decided to do it, and I did it! And I will continue to do it until I cannot do it any longer!

And so can you! What have you been putting off? What would you like to try? It doesn't have to be running, or even athletic in nature. Maybe it's going back to college, starting a new hobby that you always wanted to try. You're not too old! As for me, I've decided that I'm 25! What age would you be??

Submitted by: Colette Brasier, Buyer Specialist for Anne Dunajcik