Today is Monday, July 17th, 2006; Karen's Korner #846

While I was still 59, I started to tell family and friends I was going to run the 100 meter dash at the Iowa Games this summer in my new category of women who were more than 60!
 
Despite the fact that I had never run in a competitive race in my life, I started to 'train', running the equvalent of 100 meters several times each day...either at our farm home or uptown at our school's track. When mentioning to family and friends what I was going to do, I would tell that I believed the only people who would enter were past track stars of the early 1960s and those who were now running marathons and 5Ks. My plan was to come in last, but beat everyone who didn't bother to run!
 
The 'big day' of the competition was yesterday! As I sat waiting for my turn to run, a handful of people sitting near me couldn't believe I had never run in anything, ever! "Not even in high school!" several said. "Nope, never!" was my reply.
 
Guess what? No one else in my age category entered! I was the oldest women entered in track and field events. It seems not too many women entered at all, in all of the adult ages. I was paired to run with six other women, ages 45 - 64. Three categories. But I would be the winner. The Iowa Games Gold Medalist in the 60 - 64 age category!! (I don't believe I will mention my 'fast time' as I don't want Molli O'Brien and Michelle Voigts, two of our local high school track stars, falling off their chairs with laughter! But I really did okay!)
 
Leading up to the event, I had lots of unknowns and people pointing me in the right direction. It would have been lots easier to not enter at all. I was happy about a month ago that I had told many what I was going to do. As I sat in front of my computer ready to register on-line, it would have been easier to not sign up! I didn't know where the track stadium was. I didn't know anyone else there. I didn't know where to sign up, how to warm up ahead of time, or even how to really run the race correctly. Other people encouraged me and pointed me in the right direction! Easier not to do, what I had never done!
 
Once again, I subscribed to the Nike slogan, "Just do it!" Like many things in our lives, when we dare to do things, try to do things, venture out into things we have never tried before, "God will bless it!"
 
May God nudge you and me to do some things outside of our comfort zone today and every day.........whether we win the gold medal or not; whether we are successful or not! He will take care of the "what happens next"!

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