Who is the Whole Runner?

Permit me to introduce myself. I am Yoni, and I have been seriously running (as opposed to laughing while running) for over 46 years. My running began as a result of a quest my buddies and I took on as freshmen in high school.  None of us was athletically gifted so we went on a quest to try-out for every possible athletic team at our high school. This was no minor feat, as our high school of over 5,000 male students invariably was a powerhouse in almost every conceivable sport. Nonetheless, we set out on our journey and needless to say we were so discouraged at the end of the first week. Basketball, baseball, football, tennis, wrestling, swimming, archery, and a host of other teams sent us home packing after one look at us. However, there was one team where the coach invited all three of us for a second tryout. That was the track team. We were elated; until we discovered that the track team required a big enough team so there would be enough man power to put up and take down the hurdles, set up and remove the starting blocks, assist with the timing devices during meets, take the team uniforms to the participating runners. You get the picture.

 

To make a long story short, we persevered. As seniors, we represented the school at the Illinois State track finals in Champaign, Illinois in the ½ mile relay and to top it off I was the captain of the varsity team. We didn’t make it to the finals that year but we made it way past our expectations that we had as freshmen. This in essence describes the Whole Runner. I have run for so many years and after so many years there is a name for the type of runner that I am. My youngest daughter came up with this concept and it fits me to a tee.

 

The Whole Runner may not be a full marathoner, but puts his Whole heart into each ½ marathon, 5K, or 10k race. The Whole Runner sets goals (usually a bunch of them so as to be able achieve at least one). The Whole Runner is not daunted by the enormity of preparation for a given race because for us much of the joy is the in the preparation before the race. The Whole Runner is not intimidated by the field of participants for he only has to beat his own fears of participating. The Whole runner is fit for his body is a precisely tuned running machine (even though once in a while a funnel cake may get in the way).  The Whole Runner not only uses his feet and legs to run but his heart and head are always fully engaged. He is not a quitter but knows clearly when its time to walk and begin planning for the next race.