Runner’s World+ Member: Barbara Heath
Barbara is a Runner’s World+ member. Join her and thousands of others chasing their goals with day-by-day training plans, expert advice from editors and coaches, and unlimited digital access. We regularly feature members online and in print!
Running has been a gateway for me to learn about myself. It has strengthened me in every aspect of my life—physically, emotionally, mentally. It is an avenue for me to challenge myself, to set goals just for me and to express my competitive side in a constructive way through competition with only me. Two of my strengths are organization and self-discipline, both of which have been essential for me to get in my runs consistently over the last 30 + years. That consistency makes me feel competent and accomplished. It has also been a catalyst for accepting the passage of time and aging. I can still run, but the goals have to change. RUNNING IS HUMBLING, INVIGORATING, INSPIRING, EMPOWERING, RELENTLESS. And I AM A RUNNER!!
To keep learning about running
I ran off and on when I was young. Then at 30 I had a child with Down syndrome and my world was turned upside down. When he was 10 months old I went out for a run and I’ve been running ever since. Most of my running is alone—MY time, my stress relief. It may have started as an escape—me literally running away from all that my son meant to me at that time—but over the last 30 years it has become integral to how I define myself. It gives me time to reflect, to plan, to dream. It is my time to listen to music or podcasts, to work through problems either alone or with friends. I run because I’m a better person when I do.
I run whenever I can find the time. I am a nurse and work 12 hour night shifts, different days every week. When my kids were little I would get up early afternoon and run before picking them up from daycare/school. I still run mostly in the afternoons, but the important thing to me is to just do it WHENEVER the time is right.
There is a bike/walking path along an Arroyo about a mile from my house. It is about eight miles long and it’s where I’ve logged the most miles over the years because of it’s convenience. But I’ll run just about anywhere. One of my favorite things about travel is checking out running routes in new places.
I have to have a cap to shade my face, my Fitbelt to hold keys, phone, sport beans, and my Jabra elite earbuds so I can listen to podcasts.
To just keep going for another 30 years.
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