Julia Garling (MM3960, DA2566, HF15262)A very special #tbt today, warning, it’s a long one!
Everyone needs a support system, some call it a tribe, or a gang, or a clan; I call it a running family, whatever you call it, whoever you are, you need one. I found my running family 11 years ago, today, when I joined the Marathon Maniacs.
This amazing running club that focuses on quantity has allowed me to see what is possible, has challenged me to reach for the highest goals, TITANIUM, has encouraged me to go outside of my comfort zone time and time again and supported me along the way. When I became a Marathon Maniac, I had been running marathons for 6 years and had ran 21 marathons, the last 11 that I’ve been a MM, I have ran 256 marathons.
I believe my transformation from avg marathoner to Titanium level Marathon Maniac who completed 3 rounds of the 50 states would be impossible if I didn’t have my maniacal running family.
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs places the need for belonging at number three. Once we have secured our physiological needs and physical safety, we seek out a place and people who can supply us with a sense of belonging. We’re social creatures, and we crave those relationships. Everyone needs a safe place to go where they can be themselves and not be judged and surround ourselves with people to lean on when there are bad things happening. Exercise is how I process life. Marathoning is my modality to seeing the world, to challenging my body, and now to supporting others as a Pacer.
I believe that we grow when we leave our comfort zone and in the last 11 years, I have done 26 Doubles, four Triples, four Quadzilla’s, and even a firecracker 5 one year when July 4th fell on a Wednesday! I am still in awe that I was able to pull that one off but I only did it because of my running family in the PNW. When the rest of the world says ‘its not possible’ Marathon Maniacs motto is ‘You can do it”
Thank you Marathon Maniacs for creating this safe place for us to challenge ourselves and run toward our goals. When the rest of the world says you can’t run two marathons in one season, Marathon Maniacs say ‘watch me.’
#marathonmaniacs #titanium #50statesrunningclub #runlove #pacerjulia
Photo and Post Credit Julia Garling