You Don't Have To Be a Runner to Run

By Tricia Scott. 

Where I live in the North East of England, there is a yearly half-marathon event called the Great North Run, the most famous run of its kind in the world. This year, 60,000 people of all ages from across England and the world took part. While I am usually to be found on the finish line along with thousands of other spectators, cheering the incredible runners on, yesterday I watched from home as the rain poured outside. Commentators optimistically labelled it 'ideal running conditions' as sixty thousand pairs of feet thundered the 13.1-mile journey to the finish line. 

Of course, watching from home was an entirely different perspective on the event. Instead of being part of the crowd, high-fiving hundreds of pairs of hands as they went by, I got to hear the stories of why participants were running, and you know what? Almost every person sharing a story was not a runner. Instead, they were regular people pushing themselves to do something extraordinary. They were running in memory of a loved one, raising money for a charity, recovering from illness and running with friends in fun costumes. In every case, they challenged themselves to get waaayyy out of their comfort zones

Quick fact → Each year, over £25M is raised for charitable organisations by GNR participants

It struck me (in between ugly crying at some of the amazing people I watched and their stories) just how incredible humans are when they have a purpose and a vision. Those people were not runners, but their purpose drove them to train all year long to meet the challenge head-on. It didn't matter how long it took them to cross the finish line—that was never the point. What mattered was what they did.  

Not only that but at the end of the race, being interviewed for TV, without fail, every soaked-through runner said that once their feet hit the tarmac, they were carried along by the crowd. The atmosphere, the other runners helping each other, the live music at various stations, children and parents handing out sweet treats, water and encouragement on the sidelines, and the overall camaraderie of the day made what felt like the impossible possible. 

Once the TV coverage was over (thousands of people were still running), I reflected on what I had just witnessed. 

• People are amazing 
• We can do hard things. 
• Life (and business) is much easier (and more fun) with the right people around us. 
• The conditions don't matter when we have a solid vision and mission in mind. 
• Age is not a factor (I watched a 77-year-old runner interviewed, and he got a time of 1hr 50 mins!).
• You don't have to BE a runner; you can still run, and similarly, you don't have to BE a typical businessperson; you can still run a business.
• You can run, walk, crawl, dance and skip your way through and still make it to the finish line.
• It doesn't matter how long it takes. What matters is that you don't give up.
• It doesn't matter if this isn't your full-time thing. You can train on the side and be successful. 

I can't help but wonder how different our journeys would be if we all ran our businesses with the enthusiasm of a woman about to run the race of her life because, actually, we are. 

Know your why, pace yourself, run your race, allow yourself to be carried along by the people around you, and most of all, never give up. 

The finish line is in sight. Go for it.  

I believe in you (always).

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Tricia Scott is a passionate startup business mentor and the Founder and Editor of The Female CEO - Create Evolve Overcome, a platform and digital magazine holding the space to showcase female entrepreneurs from all over the world. 

The Female CEO is gaining global recognition daily and Tricia is able to bring her own level of expertise as a start-up mentor and multi-company director to her very exclusive table along with her team of brilliant Guest Editors and Contributors. You'll usually find her with her MacBook in one hand and a coffee or a glass of something fizzy in the other. Reach out anytime!