Savannah is a RUNNER!

It's kind of funny how sometimes in life, the same themes keep recurring. I've been re-reading the book The Non-Runners Marathon Trainer. (I know technically I'm not a "non-runner" but it has so many great skills in there that I keep reading it.) In it, the idea of self-talk is introduced. Everything you say to yourself is instruction to the brain. Therefore, if you tell yourself you are lazy, your brain responds by being lazy and likewise if you tell yourself you are a strong, confident person you will be that person.

Last night the girls and I were able to go to a fireside. This woman had recently become a runner. She bought a magazine before going on a long plane ride that was about how to become a runner and for some reason she believed it. She started telling herself that she was a runner and even had her friends begin to call her "Laurel, the runner." (She is quite a character.) She is a little heavy, but she says that she actually has been running and has signed up for a half marathon in June. It all began with the thought, "I think I am a runner." (By the way... the theme for the young people this year is "I Believe.")

Anyway, this all comes together with Savannah. At the beginning of the year, her P.E. coach encouraged her to go talk to the track coaches based on her performance in class. And with that... she joined the track team. It has been so great for her. The coaches are really impressed with her performance and tell me she is by far the freshman with the most potential. The senior girls have really taken her under their wing and it is being such a great experience for her. On Friday, we had a meet at the Olympic Oval. She ran the 400m, 10 seconds faster than her coaches predicted. She still needs to shave off 11 seconds before the state track meet in four months so she can snag a spot on the relay team with 3 of the seniors, but we think she can do it. We're working on her mantra now because we know- Savannah is a RUNNER!

P.S. I have to admit it's a dream come true for me to have my daughter run with me in the mornings... even though she always beats me on the last sprint home.