Lessons from NYC: everyone's a winner baby ain't that the truth

It's not long now until some very motivated Mums will be lacing up their shoes to do the New York City Marathon (go Ruth and Cathy!). As a running Mum myself (who did the famous race two years ago) I can't help feeling a tingle of excitement. Why?

It's the mecca for marathoners. And it's often the no. 1 running destination on a runner's 'bucket list'. The most famous 42.195 km race in the world through all five boroughs of New York is considered the peak of all marathons. The course does have its pitfalls (the long wait at the start line in Staten Island for one, the difficult course and the hilly finish in Central Park) but the 2 million people that line the streets to cheer sure do make it easier.

Just getting to the start line in NYC or any marathon is an achievement. But you don't have to run a marathon to test yourself.

Your health goal may be to drop a dress size, complete something that you've always started but never finished, or part of a long term plan to lead by example for your children. When you challenge yourself, and push the boundaries, you know what it means to be alive. And you appreciate what you have. 

Me - after finishing the NYC marathon in 2011

Exercising with others is motivational and inspiring. Everyone has their own story. I've trained with women of all shapes and sizes. Some running to beat cancer, depression, or 'move on' from marriage breakdowns. And some like Mum-of-three - who couldn't walk around the block a year ago - but is now running effortlessly for 30 minutes straight. Just hanging around with women like this is inspirational and makes you appreciate what you have. Hell, if they can do it - why can't you?

Set tangible goals for yourself. Before you start on a new training program decide what it is that you want to achieve and why it's so important to you. Just saying 'to lose weight and get fit' isn't enough of a motivator to get you out of bed in the morning, but maybe 'to run a 5km race and raise $2,000 for breast cancer research' is.

But don't rely on motivation alone to get you moving. Don't wait around for someone or something to motivate you to put your runners on and get out the front door. Sometimes you just have to ACT NOW.

Running isn't for everyone but do something that you enjoy! Cycle, swim, hike through the bush, rollerblade, play soccer with your kids. It doesn't matter what you do, as long as you enjoy it. If you do, chances are you'll continue to do it and get fitter in the process.

To paraphrase an 18th century German writer and philosopher Goethe, 'inspiration has a genius of its own. If you have a good idea, do it NOW'.