A full running outfit (top, bottom, shoes) giveaway for your RUNNING INSPIRATION!!!

My sister inspires me. Even after having four kids and a super busy schedule she tells me how many miles she ran. Makes me realize I have no excuse!

I don’t know if this ok for me to say, but I run for me. I was in a really bad place for a really long time, and I wanted to do something to make myself happy and healthy and I started running, and fell in love with how it makes me feel.

Well…I started running to relieve stress from work. My husband was always my rock and cheered me on! He later started running with me inspiring me and at times pushing me to do my best!

I started running for myself years ago – it made me happy. I was able to run away from my problems and think. I did A LOT of running and A LOT of thinking over a span of 6 years. Through all of the running and thinking, I now have a daughter who is 21 months old – I struggled with infertility and a failed adoption. But I made it through because of running. I now run for myself AND for my daughter. I want her to know how important exercise is and eating healthy. Running is part of my daily routine :).

Gosh, What inspires me? The feeling I have when I’m finished and have pushed myself further, faster or for longer than I had before.
Right now I’m pretty down because an IT band is going to keep me out of two 1/2s and a full I had coming up but I’m hoping I can run again down the road.

You inspire me! You’re positive attitude, ability to try new things (when running doesn’t always go as planned/work out), and inspirational messages keep me going through SO many of my runs. Cheesy? Yes. But I look forward to your blog every day. Thank you so much!

this seems silly, but there is the cutest little old man who i see out when i am running occasionally….he has got to be at least 85 and still jogs with a huge smile on his face. whenever i see him, it’s a reminder to reground myself…it doesn’t always have to be about winning a race.

So, I read this post and started thinking about who inspires me. This may sound corny, but it is the absolute truth: Every single woman out there running inspires me. Every mom who runs miles and miles pushing a stroller full of kiddos just to get her daily jog in. The super talented women who break records and barriers every day as professional runners. The overweight women who are really struggling to take every step on their run, but they do it anyway because they want to improve their health and their lives. They all humble me and make me so grateful to be a part of this sport. There are a lot of men who run and inspire me as well, but it’s just not quite the same feeling I get from watching a woman chase down her goals. We just have a lot more going on throughout life. Between periods, babies, weight gain, emotional issues, and trying to look cute the whole time, women have their plates full. So to all of those out there who make an effort to run every day, or once a week, or whenever you can: I salute you!

The person who helped me fall in love with running is an amazing person named Shayna. When I was very overweight she encouraged me to start small walking and eventually jogging on a mountain trail near our homes. She would make me get out there, even when I hated it. After the first month or so, I was hooked. It’s been about 7 years and now I jog/run daily and have completed 9 half marathons (1 under 2 hours!!!!), a few 5Ks and some mud runs. I never thought I would reach this point, it’s truly amazing. Now I am planning on running a Ragnar and a Tough Mudder.

My kids inspires me to Run Happy. I want to be able to live a healthy life so I can take care of them!

My dad is definitely my biggest inspiration! He is the hardest working man that I know and never gives up. Plus he is a beast of a runner at the age of 58!

Mine would have to be my boyfriend and daughter – We keep a positive, healthy and active lifestyle together. We try and lead a good example for our daughter to follow – we always let each other know to never give up – if he is slowing down I motivate him to finish if I am slowing dowm he pushes me to push harder- If my daughter isnt doing good in her game we tell her to try her best! We wouldnt be able to do what were doing without each other!

My littlest one is my biggest inspiration to Run Happy, because that’s what she does!

My sister!!! She is the bestest person in the whole world. She didnt get me into running (she thinks she did). Kit is younger than me by 3 years and she wanted to do 1 marathon to cross it off her bucket list and we did it together at MCM 2013. Now she is training for a BQ :) She is super cool and is always running and putting everything she has into her goals.

I’m inspired my sister in law Maren. She is an amazing runner, ran for BYU, and is awesome! She loves to talk running with everyone and is excited when they reach their running goals, no matter how slow or small that goal may be to her. She always will run a mile with me (before taking off for her workout), but I never feel like I’m holding her back, she makes me feel like that is exactly the pace she wants for that mile. She is someone who loves to run and definitely Runs Happy and helps me Run Happy and proud!

A HUGE inspiration of mine is my aunt Katy. Everything she does, she does it HAPPY! I can’t even count how many times I’ve texted her wanting a new healthy recipe or exercise plan! It is kind of a family joke that I’m still the little 10 year old following her around and wanting to copy her every move! She is beautiful inside and out and she helps me to not only Run Happy in my exercise, but to Run Happy in life! :)

Just to let you know I shared my entry on Facebook :))

My biggest inspiration would have to be my Mother. She was the one who originally got me into running and inspires me every single day to keep at it! She has been living with Rheumatoid Arthritis since she was 25, had a stroke 5 years ago, and she ran 2 half marathons just a year & a half after her stroke! Freaking amazing if you ask me!! She ran my first two half marathons with me and now we are signed up for another one in October! You will never hear her complain about anything and she has always been my biggest fan throughout my entire life. I’m so very blessed to have such an awesome, lifelong running partner!!

My hubby inspires me… He got me running in the first place. Convinced me to run my first half, coached me to actually run a 5k and keeps encouraging and pushing me at the same time. :) Love it!

My husband and baby — I want to be healthy for them!

I started running for me. I wanted to get active and get healthy. I still run for me, but now I’m married and we’re thinking about starting a family, so I guess I’m running for the future!

My dear friend Kim. She is an amazing runner and LOVES every step of every journey! She just completed Western States 100 mile run and rocked it. That is just one of her amazing journeys! She is so inspirational and she has endless energy. Just to be around someone who absolutely loves running like she does is infectious! Three of us (we were nicknamed the Three Amigas a few years ago) journey together whenever we can – though I can’t keep up with her! We just came back from Sonoma County and completed our first Half Ironman (yes, 2 weeks after WS100) – she was so happy when it came time to run! (too funny, I was thinking…”I have to now RUN a half marathon????” and she was super excited at that point!) So I do my best to be inspired by her! We have shared countless hours on trails and roads together. She has children older than mine and I cannot tell you how many times I would be so stressed/worried about some parental issue and unload to her on a run and Kimmie would just be SO comforting! Funny to look back and remember how “end of the world” important some parenting issue is, and it really just isn’t! It is a stepping stone – and having a friend like Kim to help me keep things in perspective is a life saver! :-)

Shared!

You inspire me along RER and Stuftmama. I read you blogs every morning. I am not a long distance runner but you ladies help me continue striving for my goals. I am fifty-three and may never run a marathon but you make me proud when I am able to experience a race through your eyes. You are a strong woman. Please continue this blog.

My sister is also the one who inspires me to Run Happy! She continues to stay positive no matter what is going on in her life, and is always one of my biggest supports. She’s my little sister (even though we’re only 19 months apart) and it should be the other way around but I totally want to be more like her. She truly does not care what anyone else thinks (something I need to learn to do more) and I just love her a whole bunch!

My sister too! Gotta love having a sister :)

My sister helps me run happy too! We always chat on the phone about how our training is going (we live across the country from each other :( ). When we do get together we run with each other every time, I was able to help pace her in one of her last half marathons which was so fun. We are able to confide in each other and help each other become better runners, it really is the best having such a great sister.

My neighbor Ashley encouraged me to push pass my limits and run my first half last year. We ran 2 in one year and she was right there to help me with all of my training runs and to pace me during my races. She is running her first full marathon this fall and I plan on running the last mile with her.

I grew up playing soccer and played soccer throughout college. Distance running was always discouraged from our training regimen. When I completed my senior soccer season I found myself lost and not knowing what to do with myself. My roommate and teammate, Lauren, suggested that we all train for our first half marathon. It would give us something to train for again – and a reason to reunite after we had all graduated and moved to different areas of the country. We have annually been meeting up in Phoenix to run the R&R marathon down there for several years. She is who I owe my love for long distance running to!

My daughters inspire me to keep going. I started running when my then 8 year old daughter joined her school’s run club. After a few months of watching her work really hard at something that she was growing more and more to love, I couldn’t help but get out there myself and see what it was all about. My girls are now 8 and nearly 12 and are both very active in competitive sports including soccer, softball and running. I now have to keep running just to keep up!

One of my older brothers got me into running! He is 3 years older than me and ran XC and track in high school. Because he loved it so much (and was crazy good!) I felt inspired to join both teams when I was a freshman, which was one of the best decisions I ever made. He got 3 stress fractures in his feet, but never gave up and even went on to run at a D1 college!

We overlapped in high school for one year and would cheer for each other SO much and talk all about running in the car rides home from practice. Then when I was still in high school and he was in college, he came to as many of my races as he could, wrote me long texts the night before big meets, and helped me through all of my injuries.

Now that he’s graduated college and I’m still in it, he’ll often ask me to go on runs when we’re both home for holidays. I cherish that time on the trails with him.

We formed an incredible bond and that was all because of our shared passion for running. I’m so grateful for him not only because he got me into running, but because he is an amazing older brother :)

I am inspired by my younger siblings. As the oldest of 5, I want to set a good example for them!

I also tweeted (@fuelingalife) about this awesome giveaway :)

my best friend from college! we bonded through long runs after track practice every day, and right after school she had a baby. she’s a single mom and STILL finds time to run often!

I tweeted it!

My person is my best friend – she re-defines Run Happy! She is amazing in every way, and this year is the first in 3 years we are not running a half marathon side-by-side. She will be doing it alone and I could not be more proud! We went from casual joggers to full-on half-marathoners in 9 months, and we have consistently beaten our own PRs! Five half marathons later, and we are hooked!

The early death of my brother inspires me to run to stay fit and take better care of myself.

Funny enough, my yellow lab Thunder is my inspiration. He is right by my side every morning, pushing his wet, sloppy and cold nose against my face, itching to go for a run. On those mornings when all I want to do is stay wrapped up in my warm blankets, I rise and shine, lace my sneakers up and hit the trails because I know that once I get out there, Thunder leading the charge, I know I will feel 100% better.

You were the first one to inspire me to run ;-) absolutely love your blog!

My husband and my dad who passed away last year.

My mom is my biggest running inspiration and my favorite running buddy. She has been a runner my entire life, and always inspires others around her to be active. I look forward to our weekly runs, and have learned so many things from her and her years of experience. She continues to encourage me to set goals, and supports me during training runs, or at races by biking along the course if not running herself. I feel very lucky to get to spend hours running with her and spending time together :)

The person who first inspired me to run was my high school cross country coach. I went to a high school in a small country town that had its first year of a cross country (girls only) team my freshman year. The boys team was added the following year. The first coach was good, but the coach who picked up the team my sophomore year was amazing. He was also the JV basketball coach and a member of the National Guard………….he could beat all of us in the 5K distance! Even though I was the slowest one he always let me race and never was discouraging. I loved being part of a team and running was as hard or as easy as I made it. After the season was over my senior year we had team awards night. My teammate Blythe and I received an award for being the first ever 4-year runners to graduate from our high school! He gave us the trophies and said something about missing “his girls”. I was almost in tears! Toward the end of my senior year he was sent to Fort Campbell, KY, and although he was never deployed overseas, it was a scary time thinking he was close to leaving his family and high school teams. I was so proud to go back and visit and tell him when I had completed my first half marathon! While I run more for me (is that selfish?!) I will always be grateful for Coach Millsaps support and encouragement at such a vulnerable time (high school) in a kid’s life.

My family inspires me. They always support me and cheer me on, whether for a 5k or the Ironman. I love that they celebrate with me.

My running buddy Amanda inspires me. She came to me just off of having her son, and told me she needed a boost to get back to her fitness- we called it “Project fit into work pants.” I had no idea how it would change my life. I watched her as she struggled post c-section to run a half mile down our road, drenched in sweat. Then a mile. Then three, and then there was that magical day she hit her first post baby 5 miler. I had always been casually fit, never a runner , no interest in running. But because of her always dragging me out for runs, and to races, and being an awesome competitor, I have even done a marathon! Never would have thought!

Oops, here’s my separate comment! Tweeted about the giveaway :)
https://twitter.com/creativeaim87/status/489184225682149376

My sister is also my running inspiration! Many of my favorite memories involve us pounding the pavement for one goal or another. Now we live far apart, and I miss running with her so much. She was–and is–usually the reason I get out to the door to run at all. Last year we trained for our first marathon, but I got sick at the last minute and wasn’t able to run. She walked the course with me, when she could have been putting all that training into finishing her goal. Luckily, she was able to enter another race two weeks later and rocked that one instead!

My good friend Monica inspires me so much. She has taught me the importance of exercising and running for me, not so much for the faster times or to be the fittest person. She is able to balance staying active and fit with being a wife and mom to 4 busy boys.

This will sound so cliche, but it is truly God who inspires me to run. He gave me the ability to run, and I thank Him everyday for that! It is also wonderful to spend time with Him in His creation while I’m going on my runs, and it is truly what gets me through the long runs! I strive to do my best and give my all because He gave me His all.

My teammates inspire me! I’m entering my sophomore year of university and we’ve got an amazing group of girls for cross country this year. We’re determined to be on the podium at NCAAs this year and everyone is running and cross training their butts off! Anytime I don’t feel like getting in the pool or toughing out a hot long run I just think about my girls putting in the work for me and know that I have to put in the work for them too!

My husband. He hates running but supports, encourages, and cheers for me at every race!

My family inspires me to run!

Probably my two little girls! They inspire me to be happy and healthy for them! I get very stressed in my work and need the stress relief of running to calm me down so I can be a better Mum.

My sister inspires me to “run happy” she always sees the joy in running, even when it hurts, it hurts so good :) I have learned to have a happier sense of self since running more and have her to thank for this!!

My mom is my running inspiration!

My best friend Britney inspires me. No matter how bad a run is going, she is always positive. We had a long run on the schedule for this past Saturday that needed to get done that day. We woke up to pouring rain, but we still got ready to run. She was positive the entire time, which really helped me get through the run. I was so thankful I had her next to me for that run and the fact that we pushed each other to finish it. We have been running buddies sinc high school and are currently training together for her first marathon!

I’m the mom of three crazy little boys and have an amazing husband, but… I inspire me to run happy. It’s my medicine. Without running I’m quicker to lose my temper, yell, curse and just plain be nasty. Running keeps me patient (mostly), and kind and caring. I truly feel a miserable mood lowering on me when I skip a few days. Without running, I have trouble seeing the joy and beauty in my life. It’s my life, may as well enjoy it.

The “person” who motivates me the most is my dog-hter. She has learned to recognize my running outfits so if I set them out the night before then try to skip out on our morning runs I get the most heartbreaking look imaginable. And I can’t live with the guilt of knowing I ruined her day.

Honestly my own health inspired to to run & excercise , I realized the importance of daily excercise and I try to empower myself to get up and go for a run at least every morning .

My husband inspires me to Run Happy. He’s a distance swimmer who swam the English Channel last fall, and I learned so much about endurance events watching him train. But also, he ran four miles (not in flip flops! But he’s not a runner) from mile 17-21 during my last marathon when I wanted to quit due to stomach problems. Lucky for me, my stomach got better and I finished strong. But it was my husband cheering me on that got me to continue when I otherwise would’ve thrown in the towel.

my boyfriend inspires me to run happy!

I tweeted!

I stopped running in 2010 and always had an excuse. My father in law inspired me to run again. After an accident at work, he is learning to walk again using pool therapy. Run for those who can’t! I have NO excuse.

My co worker inspires me to run happy. He encouraged me to run my first 5k and coached me through my first full marathon. He is very encouraging and has been so helpful.

My Mom inspires me. She has a muscle disease that prevents her from running. She has always been an athletic, active person, so she does what she can, walking, biking, swimming. I know it is not easy for her, so when I get tired while running I always think do it for Mom. She doesn’t give up, so neither can I!!! Works every time!

My husband inspires me to run. He and I have been together for 10 years and he has seen me through it all. I was overweight when we met and when I decided to get healthy he was there to help me. I lost 120 lbs and started running half marathons and he was always my biggest supporter at the finish lines!

My Mom! She took up running in her 20s and has a sub-3 hour marathon and a 80 min half marathon PR. She’s had her fair share of injuries but is always finding ways to incorporate running and exercise into her life. She even took up skiing in her late 40s and went back to the mountain even after breaking her leg on her skis. She is also ready to talk running with me all the time even though I’m nowhere near as fast as she was.

My mom inspires me to Run Happy. Everytime I get too caught up in hitting certain paces or distances I talk to my mom and am reminded why I do all this…because running is fun! My mom runs because she loves it :)

My cousin inspires me to run happy! She always runs with a smile on her face, and she is so enthusiastic about running. She reminds me not to take it too seriously and to just enjoy it!

I run happy first to celebrate that I can! Our bodies are amazing. The other reason I run happy is to be a positive role model for my daughters in cherishing wellness.

I tweeted about the giveaway!

My coworkers motivate me. We run twice a week on our lunge breaks and without them I would never push my hard to do as well as I do.

My best friend inspires me to run happy. Not only is she a great friend, she is also the person that I do 75% of my runs with. When you do all of your long runs together when training for multiple marathons, you really get to know a person well. Her positive attitude has gotten me through many hard days. We both qualified for and ran the Boston Marathon in 2013. Although I had a faster qualifying time, we had decided we wanted to run the race together, every step of the way, so I started a few corrals back to be with her. The first half of the race I was doing well, and she was struggling, so I got to encourage her. The second half of the race she was doing well, and I was hurting. The hills were hard! I wanted to stop and walk up one and she told me that I would regret doing that for the rest of my life. Although it might seem like a harsh thing to say, it was true. It was motivation for me to run up that hill and we finished the race sprinting at a sub-7 minute mile pace to to the finish line. Luckily, we finished far enough before the bombs went off to not be near them at the finish line. I couldn’t think of a more deserving person for a new outfit.

I run for my future children! (If that makes any sense? Lol) I want to be a healthy active mom one day and teach my kids to be the same way….

My Mom inspires me. We love to go out jogging together even if the walk to run ratio is way off. She just encourages me to get out there and that’s what matters.

My boyfriend inspires me! He’s running couch-to-5k with me now even though he doesn’t need the slow pace. He does it just to encourage me.