Looking for a little inspiration? Look around you. Some people see inspiration at every turn, be it a beautiful sunrise (photo stolen from courtesy of Chick #1 – Julie – Ragnar Relays),
Children at play, 
Or men and women who are constantly pushing their limits. I’d like to introduce you to one of those people, April W.
When I met April at a party in November 2011, I quickly learned that she was registered to run her very first half marathon in July 2012, the Napa to Sonoma Half Marathon. It looks like an amazing race, who wouldn’t want to run it? Well, probably NOT April since she wasn’t a “runner”. She wasn’t a runner but she signed up for a half marathon? My immediate thought was, “Hmmmm…… I wonder if she knows that’s 13.1 miles? I’m certainly not going to be the one to break it to her!”. I figured one of her friends below: Cynthia & Jen with April….
might eventually shed light on the situation and the distance since they were running too. Maybe?
Over the course of the evening and a couple hundred vomit inducing glasses of wine, I learned that April was going to start training for her half in January. Like after the new year? Like everyone else who decides to start something new but can’t quite commit to starting “right now”? Ok, sure. I still invited her to come run with the F’N Running Club because we have all levels of runners. We welcome everyone, fasties and run/walkers alike. If you want to run, just show up, we are happy to have you and that’s not an exaggeration in the least! Did I think April would ever show, not really but I’m always hopeful and I tried to be very encouraging and let her know that she would fit right in with the group.
The first week of January, I got a text message from April saying she was ready start running but didn’t know what to wear. Apparently, I’ll give my cell # to any random wannabe runner after a few glasses of wine. Possible character flaw? See the F’N Runners run outside, year round to get a break from our screaming children take advantage of the fresh air. I gave April some tips on what to wear for cold weather running and told her we just so happened to be running the very next day and she should come out. And she SHOWED UP along with a lot of other crazy people. This was January 8, 2012. April is in the light blue jacket, middle back, wearing a black hat. This is her first run of the year.
I was so proud of her and several other newbies who had showed up on that cold January day that they were the inspiration for my post on Courage. I can’t even tell you how proud I was that she had the courage to show up. I hope that I did her and the other newbies justice in the “Courage” post and I hope it gives others the courage to get out the door and try something new.
April didn’t give up. She didn’t lose motivation when the new year faded. She just kept showing up and pushing her limits. Left middle back, black hat.
She was even running solo without the group. She was strong and had the will to Make It Happen.
And she started racing (right side, black vest, pink top, black hat), first up was the Midwinter’s Cruise 5K:
Then the Shamrock Shuffle 8K (middle, black hat):
And the Soldier Field 10 mile!
Next up is the Napa to Sonoma Half Marathon on July 15, 2012. There is not a doubt in my mind, I know she will cover the distance with a smile on her face.
Inspiration lives around us each and every day. Inspiration is at every turn if you just look and listen. Take a look around and find somebody YOU know who inspires you to get out the door and keep working hard. Nobody can do it for you. Nobody did it for April. But you can look at others and use them as inspiration to keep pushing.
Let’s hope April comes back after her half and gives us an insider look into what has motivated her to keep pushing, moving, running and being an inspiration to her family, community and all of us F’N Runners. Thanks, April! And the big question, will April keep running after Napa to Sonoma? I’m betting, YES!
Who inspires you to keep moving? Remember Angela C? She is another real person who inspires me daily. If you haven’t already, read Angela’s story HERE.
** Hoping YOU Find Inspiration ** Amanda – TooTallFritz **
TooTallFritz 
Yay April!! Yeah, if she can do the Soldier Field 10, then she can do 13 miles. Good luck April! Can’t wait to hear about it!
She can totally do it!!
Loved reading your post, I just posted yesterday about motivation and how one person touched my life a year ago and now I’m training for my first half marathon with team in training.
Going over to read your post now!
To be fair.. there was a certain amount of arm twisting involved! If I didn’t have this big task ahead of me (& my husband staring at me EVERYDAY with those “Your going ALL the way to NAPA to run???? when you could easily do that HERE!” eyes)… I may not have come back! But all kidding aside.. I felt like a complete dolt after that first run.. but i learned SOOO MUCH!!! & I come back every run to soak up as much knowledge as I can! I actually LIKE RUNNING (it only took many many months).. I can’t thank Amanda & the FNRC for all they have done for me! I will be happy to write a little race recap for you!
Oh- & those other two ladies in that picture above.. Yeah, those ones that wrangled me into this.. well they are dropping like flies due to injuries. I seem to be the leader of the pack right now! & that to me is COMPLETELY HILARIOUS!!!!
To be continued…….
We all look forward to hearing the stories and are so happy this has been such a productive year for you!!!! I wish C & J well. I hope you all enjoy the experience and they are able to run.