Nina practicing for miles
When I lost my ability to move and exercise, you all stepped up. You rode, ran and yoga-ed your way to donate #MilesForAshley when I couldn’t do it myself. Some of you ran races while others started exercising again after an injury. Together you have raised more than 1,223 miles in the past month. They came in donations as short as a one mile walk and as long as 20 mile runs! You’ve put your health to the test and exercised for all sorts of reasons, including your own health and supporting me.
Whitney and Duke after a run
It’s been exhilarating to watch the miles roll in from my comfy couch at home. Reading about your weekend workouts that you’ve logged under #MilesForAshley kept me from thinking of the workouts that I am missing.
As a society I think we tend to not appreciate something fully until we face losing it: summer weather, relationships, our health. We can get so caught up in schedules and where we have to be next that we run through the motions. Taking time off has taught me to slow down and appreciate the little things: each movement, each meal and each relationship.
Jamie‘s sister and friend after a 5k
Don’t get me wrong, I’m planning on going back to full speed and more when I am healed. Appreciating the moment doesn’t have to mean doing less, going slower or stopping altogether.
Celebrate your fitness. Celebrate what you can do in the moment for how amazing it is; don’t live in anticipation or even fear of what the next moment will bring.
Emily finishing a half marathon
Thank you Katy for creating #MilesForAshley and everyone who has kept it alive on Twitter. My miles will be for all of you when I can run and bike them again!
What do you run, bike, swim, yoga and sweat for? Do you keep an intention in mind during your practice?
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
This is so true Ashley. I am JUST starting to run again after having to take 3 months off due to an ankle stress fracture. I was training for my first marathon and tomorrow would have been my marathon day (Chicago) and it’s tough emotionally. This was my 2nd major injury of the year (I took another 6 weeks off in the Spring due to a shin splint) and I have realized that I just need to enjoy what I can do.
I may not be fast now, but my speed will come back naturally. I may not be able to run 14 miles, but I need to celebrate that I can do 2 or 3. I need to cherish the gifts I do have and what I can do now.
What I love about you Ashley is your positivity through all of this. I can not wait to see you at Disney in January (I’m running the 1/2 for the second year in a row).
Katy (The Singing Runner) recently posted..3 Truths… 1 Lie
Wow, what an amazing network of friends you have
Kiah recently posted..how it came to be, part three
I’m pretty new to exercising regularly and have a significant amount of weight to lose. But, since reading about you, I’ve definitely become more grateful for my ability to work out, even when working out is hard. It makes me more grateful for what I am able to do, and inspires me to be healthy, all the time.
I can’t wait to see what you accomplish when you’re able to start exercising again.
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i have a different intention every time I practice yoga. today’s was “ease”. Isn’t that the opposite of disease?
I’ve been seriously trying to figure out WHY I work out. For so long it was just to burn calories and lose weight – I lost sight of why it was important at all. So now, my goal is to figure out what kind of exercise makes me happy and why I do it.
Yes! I’m excited and proud that today, I’ve been able to bend my knee to a 45 degree flex on my CPM machine. It’s so true – you don’t realize what you have till it’s gone. Even though I knew my surgery was coming and I’d be limited in my activity, I didn’t realize the impact till it was actually here and I need help lifting my leg onto a chair, onto the bed. You’re inspiring me to keep working hard and to get past the soreness as soon as possible and into a stationary bike too! Hopefully just a few weeks away for me. Keep up the great progress and inspirational posts!
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I just had this convo with my sophomore English students after reading “Water, is taught by thirst,” by Emily Dickinson. Check it out!
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