Your Favorite Running Memory?
I've been blessed to be able to run some incredible races in the last five years and have the opportunity to travel to different locales to do so: from Africa to New York to Boston to Chicago, but my favorite running moment was when I ran a local 5k Girls on the Run race with my daughter and her classmates. I had the wonderful opportunity to be a coach for a season understanding that, while many (like my daughter) may not continue on with running, no one will ever be able to take away from their accomplishments on their race day; that it was not just about physical activity, but the knowledge that their hard work, dedication, and determination they applied to that moment was within them all along and still remains within them and can be applied to any goal they set out to achieve. As Michael J. Fox has said "Our challenges don't define us. Our actions do."
Running Advice To Offer?
Running is a hobby. The experience should bring you joy - even as it can challenge and frustrate you at times. While I whole heartedly support following a specific plan to help you achieve your goals, you have to also be willing to be flexible. Life will interfere. Unless you are an elite and sponsored athlete, running should never be prioritized over everything else. Furthermore, we should never apologize because we miss a training day. I try to schedule my running around family and work, not the other way around. And while I am very competitive, it is mostly with myself, wanting to continually improve. We shouldn't measure our success by where we place in the race standings, but by how we felt at the end of the season and by our desire to continue to learn and our willingness to grow.
Why I Like RCR Events?
The RCR team always strives to make their races well organized, enjoyable, and affordable. Since the majority are in Cherokee Park, I'm able to run my race morning warm-up from my front door to the race start line (and then a cool-down on the way home). I also appreciate the new addition of races and the 502 Medal series as a great way to encourage our community to support smaller races that aren't often as well attended. The Winter Series is also a great way for me to add some speed and hill work into my "off-season" training while I maintain my base before Spring marathon training really takes over.
Anything Else To Share?
While I love sharing my journey on social media (primarily through Instagram but also on Strava and Athlinks), I am always keenly aware, as says, that "comparison is the thief of joy." It is very easy to get caught up in looking at how others are running and feel that you aren't accomplishing enough or that you are missing out on opportunities. The truth is, we cannot run every race, not every training run will be spot on for your planned goals, and not everyone has a work/home/life balance that affords the time to train the same way as others. I try to remember that and hope that I communicate well with our Fleet Feet training group, that everyone you see out there, either on the road or on social media, started their running journey the same way they have: by putting one foot in front of the other to keep moving forward.
Myrdin Thompson is the Fleet Feet Training Program Director. Since 2014 she has completed 13 marathons, one Ultra (50 miles), and summited Mt. Kilimanjaro. Five of her marathons qualified her for Boston, running Boston twice (2016 and 2018) and is planning on running Boston again this Spring 2020. She continues to be a proud member of the Fleet Feet Elite Team, a Michael J. Fox Team Fox Athlete, Charity Miles Ambassador, and member of 261 Fearless. She is currently working on her Running Coach certification and most mornings you can find her running in the Cherokee Park loop. To learn more about Fleet Feet 's Louisville Distance Project, No Boundaries (5k training), and the Elite Team, please go to www.fleetfeetlouisville.com or email Myrdin at myrdin@fleetfeetlouisville.com