Hi, this is Debbie Boyles, coach at Mojo for Running, and today's podcast is titled Running Personally.

Of all the reasons I love running, maybe the thing I like the most is that it's a completely personal and customizable sport.

We run when we choose to run at the intensity we determine, with the company we choose, alone if we choose, and we do it whenever we choose.

In this crazy, hectic world, that flexibility is golden.

That flexibility means a runner can enjoy the benefits of running without having it add stress to their

lives. On the contrary, it can and should be the fix for stress, but that will only happen if you

use it correctly. Don't let the running run you. Never let it stress you. What would be the point of that? Back in February, in a race,

my daughter Wendy chose to stop to pose for a picture of her kissing a sculpture of a horse

that happened to be along the race course. Now, I'm not only her mom, but also her running coach.

Like me, Wendy loves to run, but she has many different speeds, and I don't necessarily mean that literally.

She takes from running what she needs at that day and time, and that's just perfect.

That's as it should be.

Some races are for a PR, personal record.

Some are to live life, enjoying spending an active day with friends. Some are to appreciate Mother Nature.

And sometimes the race itself, as it unfolds, determines what it will be. That's what happened to her that day and that weekend.

Wendy did the Mickelope Ultra Challenge in the Public's

Gasparilla Distance Classic race weekend.

That means she did two races on Saturday and two on Sunday.

She did the 15K followed immediately by the 5K on Saturday.

Then Sunday she did the half marathon followed immediately by the 8K. That's 31 miles total.

Although Wendy had PR'd in a hilly half marathon in Texas the week before, she had still hoped for some PRs that weekend, despite the fact that she knew that it really wasn't likely.

It's funny how that happens.

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