Last week I was finally able to share some exciting news. I was selected as an ambassador for the 2021 Chevron Houston Marathon! I had applied a couple months back and once all of the Covid-19 craziness hit, I had sort of forgotten I completed the application. Two weeks ago all the ambassadors were notified. Obviously I was, and still am, super excited and very grateful for the opportunity and pleasantly surprised that the message and story I want to share through this platform was worthy of recognition.
Aside from all the cool things I will get to do in conjunction with the Chevron Houston Marathon, I am excited to push my limits with my running; I will be shooting for a goal time under 3 hours in the marathon. My current PR is 3:19:41, set at the Chevron Houston Marathon in 2020. I am able to claim this big, exciting, and a little bit scary goal because I have a great coach that has guided me this far and amazing teammates that also show me that big, exciting, a little bit scary goals can be real and can be achieved.
Quite possibly the story line I am MOST excited for is sharing the inclusivity and accessibility of movement as medicine. Belief in the statement “Movement is Medicine” is central to my vision of how physical therapy is beneficial to nearly everyone. Just because running is my favorite way to move does not mean it is everyone’s favorite way to move, and that is totally ok! BUT! I would like you to consider how truly accessible and inclusive running can be as a form of movement.
Running is INCLUSIVE
- EVERYONE can do it. LOL, I know there will be people that say “I can’t run.” “I hate running.” etc. It’s, ok, there will always be those people. But what happens if we look at running a little differently? And yes, there is a caveat for individuals whose primary mode of ambulation is different, just hold for that piece.
- Running is really just fast walking. And EVERYONE can walk. Walking is a GREAT way to realize you could also walk faster, and faster, and faster, and before you know it running is happening!
- Being a “slow” runner does not make you any less of a runner. A Runner is anyone who chooses to lace up, and place one foot in front of the other on the pavement, trail, or treadmill.
- I am fortunate to live in a large metropolis that allows for many avenues for individuals of all abilities to participate in the sport of running and racing. The Houston Marathon has a large coalition of adaptive athletes; one that features hand cyclists, vision impaired runners, and an entire training team dedicated to athletes with a variety of differing physical abilities. It is so inspiring to see my sport of choice be so incredibly inclusive to all abilities.
Running is ACCESSIBLE
- What other sport can you pick that ONLY requires you to put on shoes. Shoes. JUST SHOES!! You do not “need” anything else besides shoes and the desire to put one foot in front of the next and repeat as many times as you would like to at whatever pace feels right to your body.
Keep a lookout for upcoming posts featuring my favorite movement medicine and my journey to the start and finish line of the Chevron Houston Marathon on January 17, 2021.
If you are interested in starting your own journey to the 2021 Chevron Houston Marathon, Aramco Half Marathon, or We Are Houston 5k follow the link below!
