The happiest place on earth.

Lindsay Recknell Fitness, Hope, Mental Health Leave a Comment

I love Disneyland but I’m not sure it’s the happiest place on earth. It’s a very happy place…but the happiest? Not sure.

Now, the arrivals lounge of an airport. Pretty happy! People waiting for their loved ones to arrive home from somewhere exotic and others waiting to reunite with friends. Sure, there’s the harried business people too but I’m also confident they’re happy to get off the plane.

Today, my happiest place on earth was the start line of the Calgary Marathon 10km race this morning. It was a stunning Sunday morning – crisp and clear after crazy rain yesterday, Good Life Fitness leading us in Jazzercise-style aerobics to warm up, pump-em-up music blasting full out…happy!

There is something to be said for the anticipation of a race, the expectation of a triumphant finish and my favourite part, the cheering spectators with their ridiculously hopeful signs.

“This is a lot of work for a free banana”

“May the course be with you”

“I’m sure this seemed like a good idea four months ago”

And today’s personal favourite, “When your legs give up, run with HEART”

And that is the point of today’s rambling story 🙂 Running is such a mental sport. I can set out to run 5km and feel like I’m about to fall over at 4. I can set my mind to run a 10km and want to quit at 8.

At the start line, my thoughts revolved around how I hadn’t ran as much as I’d wanted to this week, how we were a bit rushed to the start line and my feet were already starting to blister from old shoes. This is going to sound so cheesy but, intentionally, I did a 180 with my thoughts (and my body – literally did a half turn, in my spot in the starting chute) and thought these things instead: how grateful I was to able to run today, the confidence that my fitness level was at an all time high and I’d kicked ass in my training over the winter.

Spectacular day for a 10km running race!
Spectacular day for a run!

Today, I felt awesome…and I ran awesome. By far, my personal best 10km race time and it felt amazing. I ran the whole 10km without stopping, feeling powerful and confident and joyful and strong.

The sun was shining and I was in my happiest place on earth.

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