Who inspired you?

I was searching for some suggestions for a problem I am having when I run/jog. It has been a LONG time since I was able to work any of my muscles very hard and for any amount of time. So inevitably I am experiencing some pain due to weak and tight muscles. It will improve with time I hope. Anyway, in my search I came along a post that was titled who inspired you to run? It made me think of one person who has actually inspired me throughout my life to do more than just run. I have a Very good friend named Frannie. She inspired me when I was only just in my early teens to run. I have known her since I was young. . but I remember meeting her when I started going to CF camp in 1988. She is an inspiration to many I am sure, but for me it was her amazing drive to run. She has Cystic Fibrosis, you would never know it when she completed 26 mile marathons.

When I became a Freshman in High School, she had just graduated the previous year, I believe. I remember one day, I happened to notice plaques and school records. . . Frannie held a school record with her running. Because of her passion to run, I wanted to be like her. I wanted to prove to myself that I could do it too. That I could, despite having a lung disease. Although I never competed or ran a marathon, I enrolled in aerobics every semester I could, I had an exercise "type" of class along with it. I used my elective credits to enroll in them every chance I had. I ran "with" the track team after school my senior year, I never competed, but I got to where I was running about 4 miles a day.

Her infectious inspiration didn't end with running, Frannie moved to competing in weight lifting. So I too, found myself going to the gym to build muscle strength and tone. She holds a record for her weight group in the state of Idaho, I believe. It's truly a blessing to have someone to look up to who makes you a better person just by being themselves. I am sure I owe years of health to her because she made me want to challenge myself beyond what I thought I could do.

Frannie was selected to run the Olympic torch when it came through. . . . she is an amazing person. She pushes through the pain and I am amazed and inspired to this day. I like the saying 'Don't let your limitations limit you'. I don't know who said it, but it fits. If you think you can't do something for whatever reason, just imagine. . . how hard was it to run marathons with a lung disease?. . .but she proved it's not impossible.

(I hope she doesn't mind this post, but it's my blog, so there.) :)

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