Smiling and strong, Deena Kastor on her way to an 11th-place spot at yesterday’s NYC Marathon.
About 10 minutes into recording our podcast with Olympic medalist Deena Kastor, who is on an amazing streak of race successes, I asked her to what she attributes her continued strength. Deena’s response:
“It sounds a little hokey to say that happiness has helped elevate me the past year, but I am extraordinarily happy with my life and with my running and I think because of that, I have this great momentum going. I feel I’m always an optimistic and upbeat person, but I have really cut out anything in my life—there is nothing on my calendar that doesn’t make me smile,” said Deena, who finished the NYC Marathon strong yesterday in 2:33:18, the 11th overall woman in a top-notch field of international athletes.
Deena continued, “It’s really just loving every nook and cranny of my life right now. And I don’t think there’s a reason to waste energy on anything else but being joyful and happy with your progression. Or sometimes when there are hurdles, knowing this is going to unlock a whole new knowledge and a stronger, wiser self on the other side. Even when there have been challenges, I’ve been able to naturally embrace them over the years to know I am going to grow from them.”
As Deena spoke, tears suddenly and powerfully welled up in my eyes, and a lump swelled in my throat. I knew if I opened my mouth, a sob would burst out and I’d start to bawl. Thankfully, my sage sister from another mother runner, Dimity, chimed in with a succinct summation: “It’s wonderful how your happiness has ricocheted into your running.”
Grins from ear to ear, head to head: Dimity (left), me (center), and our pal Jonna after a summertime trail run in Colorado.
The reason for my tears: The realization my positive outlook really, truly had cemented my recent success at the Victoria Marathon. My coach, Briana Boehmer, had said and written it to me so many times during my training cycle. Here’s an exchange Bri and I had, based on a post I wrote about the first day of my 4+ months of marathon training:
SBS: “When I met my training partner, Molly, this morning for our run, she asked me if I felt nervous (she hadn’t read the post yet). Me: ‘Nope. I’m excited.’ Molly: ‘See! You are always upbeat! I’m nervous.’”
Bri: “I LOVE your optimistic attitude…that will (and clearly has) get you so far, Sarah. When an athlete has it, great things can happen–open mind and positive attitude give a wide-open canvas!”
More than three months later, after an extra-tough final leg in the Ragnar Relay, I told Bri I thought turning a crummy run or race around was one of my strong suits. To which Bri emailed me, “It is not just that one of your greatest strengths is turning a race/workout around but that you are able to find the positive and being smart enough to rationalize that temporary feelings are NOT reality. The tough patches were in fact temporary; reality changes every second…and that you can change your situation via sheer mental wherewithal.”
She continued: “Truly, I think the positive mental aspect is so often neglected and is something we actually can train, just like our legs and lungs. I have a very dumb and obvious anecdote I tell any athlete who is being a ‘negative Nancy’: ‘Nothing GOOD comes from thinking BAD…but only GOOD can come from thinking GOOD…so why set yourself up for BAD?”
Pretty pavement: It’s all about focusing on the good in a workout.
These are just a few of the many times Bri highlighted and commended the positivity I bring to running. (My BRF Molly once dubbed it my, “unrelenting optimism.”) But it took hearing the words come out of the mouth of an Olympic medalist and mother runner I adore and respect greatly to finally drive the message home. It was a powerful epiphany I wanted to share with the AMR community.
My challenge to you, mother runners: Today, say three positive statements out loud about yourself or your running. Or, as Molly summed it up when we discussed this post on yesterday’s run: “Suck it up, and put it out there.” She assures me she’s going to do it. How about you?
I understand the importance of time for me/running.
I don’t let the less-than-stellar runs define me.
I know that I am a positive example for others.
Bingo, Lisa. I especially love the, “I don’t let less-than-stellar runs define me.”
I am stronger than i thought.
I am faster than I think.
Because I am willing to work hard, train smart, I will get even stronger and faster and live joyfully in the sport!
Thanks for the positive post this morning. I recently started my own happiness project (inspired by Gretchen Rubin’s books) and was listening to Denna’s interview with my journal in hand. I actually wrote down her comment about nothing being on her calendar that doesn’t make her smile. I love her positivity and ease. It’s something to which I aspire. Many times it’s easy to get stuck in the metals space where negativity wins. Today, and moving forward, instead of “I think I can…” I will say “I know I can…”!
Stacey, You touch on a point I didn’t have space to get to in the post. In September, I shifted from, “In Victoria, I’m going to TRY to re-qualify for Boston” to, “Next month, I’m going to re-qualify for Boston.” It made a WORLD of difference in my mindset–and my ultimate effort.
I appreciate your gratitude for my post.
No. 1: I am running. Bam!
No. 2: I continue to listen to run strong and listen to my body at 17 weeks. Baby X and I make the rules, and we’re still in it.
No. 3: Running continues to invite the most wonderful people into my life, and those people are able to bring such light and warmth. I always felt like I was on the outside and now I’m a part of something.
This post is awesome. Thanks for writing it and for supporting runners everywhere. Here are my three things:
1.) In my last race, I kept running hard in the late miles of the race, even when I knew it wouldn’t get me a PR.
2.) I make time for running, even when it feels like a lot of effort to get out the door.
3.) I seek out hills because I know they make me stronger.
Caroline,
You have your head in the exact right place. I especially love that you keep pushing even when you felt PR slip through your grasp. xo
This post came at a time when I needed to hear it the most. Thanks for reminding me to focus on the positive and to make plenty of room for happy.
I have strong legs, I have a friendly smile, and I’m very outgoing. :)
I thought about this on my last run. I was feeling really good for a part of it, then later felt crummy for a bit. I thought about you (and Dimity has said this before too) about it being a moment, that can PASS. So I took it as a moment, and you both are right. It doesn’t have to stay bad. It can turn good just a quick as it turns bad.
Love the positive post. A great reminder to all of us to look for and think about the good. I also love Deena’s words about “loving every nook and cranny of my life” and “nothing on my calendar that doesn’t make me smile”. I want to live that way.
I, too, loved Deena’s words and her spirit. Such a glowing way to approach life.
I am consistent.
My thighs + glutes power me up hills.
I smile all the time. (even when I don’t want to)
The last two podcasts have really resonated with me. I took what SBS said about positive self talk and have been pumping myself up all week!! Deena then just reinforced what I am slowly learning – that I am happy and if I’m not I need to find the happy because i am amazing, strong and am crushing everything I do with my awesome self and being. Thank you thank you thank you. Seriously. If these other mother runners can do it so can I. We are awesome!
I actually got to listen to your whole podcast for once, because I was alone in Indianapolis for my marathon (ah, hotel sleep with no children! it’s still bliss). Deena’s words were wonderful timing for me too, as I qualified for Boston 2016 on Saturday–another squeaker but a slightly better squeaker than last year, so I’m hoping I’ll actually be able to toe the line with you in Hopkinton in 2016. Positivity and happiness played a big role for me, too. I actually told myself in the mirror before the race that I could do it…and though I won’t say the race was easy, I never doubted myself or my plan and I enjoyed the whole thing. First time for that since I’ve been on this Boston horse!!
1. I consistently get in my runs-” it’s all good, I ran today”
2. I finish every race or training run HARD.
3. I have stronger friendships because I run ( and those girls weekends to go to races twice a year make me a better wife and mom, too).
1. I am a fast runner.
2. I work hard in training for each race and get in each run/workout session.
3. I have made the best friends through running!
Hmmm… I have to think about 3 things. But I will say this is a GREAT post. It’s really got me thinking… thank you.
I listened to the Deena Kastor podcast on a windy, solo 6 miler Sunday afternoon after I spent the morning putting away clean laundry and watching the NYC marathon. When the announcer was talking about her and her 11th place finish she said something like “I know she’s not going to be happy with that…” and after listening to the podcast I thought… WRONG. What an inspiration to this 42 year old mom of 2 middle of the pack runner…. And I too had to swallow a sob when she talked about her happiness.
My three things….
1) I am a good mom raising kind, wonderful daughters.
2) This year at 42 I dug in, worked hard and set an 18 minute PR in my 3rd marathon.
3) I balance a husband I love, kids who are busy, a job that challenges me in big and good ways every day. But I rarely let any of those things take priority over taking care of myself and my physical health/well being. And I know the reason I have a happy marriage, awesome kids, professional success is that I have finally figured out that those things can only be true for me if I am a happy, healthy person.
1. I am a good mother.
2. More often than not, I choose to finish the run, even if it’s hard and I’m not running my best pace.
3. I’m not afraid to try new things.
Love this positive post! SBS you are an inspiring BAMR!
I brighten people’s days with my energy, I am a super awesome mother, and I bring passion to the things I’m interested in (running!).
She was so great to listen to-thank you for your wonderful podcasts. I’ve been working on a positive attitude all year and I have to say…staying positive (especially while being injured) is super hard, but working on it does improve it.