I can’t begin to imagine what was going through those runners’ and spectators’ minds yesterday as the explosions went off at the finish line of the Boston Marathon. But even though I will probably never run a marathon, I do know that running has become a love of mine. To honor those people (in my own little insignificant way), I wanted to share some things that running has taught me in the last year.

1. You don’t have to be perfect. I never thought I could run, and when I started, my pace was barely above a fast walk. But I’ve kept at it, and I’m improving, slowly but surely. I’ll never be the fastest, but I can always get better.

2. You can do something you love to make a change in the world. Every 5K I’ve taken part in has donated money to a charity. So, while I always joke that I’m doing it for the shirt, I also know that I’m doing a little bit of good, too.

3. You don’t have to take yourself too seriously. No matter your age, it’s okay to wear a tutu to run a 5K on the public streets of a local town, or to pause for extra color to be sprayed on your back, or to participate in a glorified wet t-shirt foam course. Because you know what? You’re not alone….there will be hundreds of others doing the same thing at the same time and laughing their way through it, too.

4. It’s okay to lose yourself for a while. Whether you’re a mom that takes care of little ones all day, or a college student, or a kid learning to take part in a team, or a 70 year old great-grandparent, that time to zone out, listen to music or just think is priceless. And no, no one will judge if your playlist is mostly Top 40 songs.

5. You’re never too old to try something new. I was never an athlete in school, but I’m in better shape now that I’ve ever been, I think. For 31 years, I was pretty sure I couldn’t run. But I tried it, and found out that I could. Like my seven year old says “Mama, you can do it. All you have to do is try.”

6. There will always be strangers cheering you on. It doesn’t matter who you brought to a race with you, or who people are there to see….people will cheer for everyone that is out there, doing their best. Walking, sprinting, and everything in between.

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