Running with a Purpose

This morning was great and emotional. I ran the Survivor 7 Harbor run at 8am and it was great to be outside, the sky was blue, the temperature was perfect, but like I said it was a little emotional. The reason it was emotional was because the Survivor 7 Harbor run made me thinki of my mother-in law who passed away about 2 months ago due to complications from pancreatic cancer. I had run the race 2 years ago, but it was really only because I wanted to do a 7 mile race around the Baltimore Inner Harbor, going into this one I felt the same; however, as soon as I checked in and got my racing chip that all changed. There was a booth where you could create a running bib with a message to those who could not run the race because of cancer. It never occurred to me that cancer would have this affect on my life, but it was a powerful moment where I found a quite place (hard right before a race) and cried. After wiping some tears and asking God to be with me as I ran this race for Dianna, I took my place in the crowd.
What was so different about this year compared to two years ago is that I ran with a purpose. That purpose wasn’t for any personal record, it was to remember someone I love and I’ll miss. It made me realize what we do in life has to have a greater purpose, if we aren’t aware of this we walk a fine line between selfishness and selflessness. From now on when I do a run, it’s not for me, it’s got to be for something greater.