We, here in the ZOOMA office, are humbled by the number of women who have signed up to run ZOOMA Annapolis this weekend. We are psyched about the race that each and every one of you will run.  Because, as runners ourselves, we are acutely aware that a race is a very personal event. We know it’s not just about the stopwatch. In fact, it may not be able the stopwatch at all.

In race planning, we generally talk collectively about “the race,” but we know that each woman will be out there battling her own demons, running for her own good intentions and ultimately beaming in her own heart. We do our best to address the questions and concerns of each individual woman who emails or calls us and to accommodate as many unique needs and requests on race day as we possibly can. Our honest and best intention is to make Sunday the BEST and MOST REWARDING experience it can possibly be for each and every one of you.

This isn’t just good customer service. We know that each of us has our own story and our own reason for running, and that is what makes running such an awesome sport.  Each one of those reasons is extremely important. It is, after all, why we do what we do.

Here’s mine:  I run to test myself on a daily basis… keep my muscles fresh and the air in my lungs from going stale. I run to train… not for an upcoming race, but for life.  (Isn’t running, after all, the greatest metaphor for life?)  I run because I can… I’ve been very fortunate to have no career-ending injuries or health issues, but some of my family members have not been so lucky.   

I’ve been honored to meet a ZOOMA Annapolis runner recently – Meg Edwards. The ZOOMA Annapolis 10K will be her first race EVER.  In fact, before January, she had never run a step in her life.  Not only has she trained to run the whole 6.2 miles, she was also a stay-at-home mom to twin 3-year-olds and a 14-month-old.  Seriously?  Oh, and did I mention she lost 27 pounds in the process?  When asked how she found the motivation to start running regularly, she had this to say – “Nobody else is going to do it for you. … That’s what I needed to do.”  For Meg, Sunday will be the culmination of five months of digging deep, sweat and aching muscles, juggling schedules, and extreme self-discipline.  At the finish line, she’ll feel nothing but pride and joy at what she has been able to do.

I know many of you are running to raise money towards the cure of a disease – perhaps one that has seriously affected you or someone you love. You may be running because you feel you have lost yourself and want to find her out on the race course.  Maybe you want to inspire your children, parents, husband or friends to get healthy and are leading by example.

In a nutshell, that is why we are psyched for every one of the 3,000 women who will be running this weekend. We wish you all God-speed and ample heart for the journey and the best of luck in accomplishing what you set out to do. See you at the finish line.

Brae