I Wish I'd Thought of That

Did you know there is a running store called See Jane Run?  It is the cutest and I wish I'd thought of it first.  The girl who began it all is not even named Jane, but I absolutely love what she has made of this store and her story behind it.  If you go to the "About Jane" section, you can see her manifesto (which totally rocks), and her story as a woman who wanted to make a change.  Not only is See Jane Run a store, but they organize and plan events (races and triathlons) and offer training programs.  I love this.  I wish I'd thought of it first.  Especially since my name is actually Jane.

There is a lot out there I wish I'd thought of first.  I just bought a copy of The Runner's Devotional and I wish I'd thought of that first too.  My mom gave it a once over and said, "You could write it better," but even if I could it has already been done now (and she's my mom, so she might be a tad biased).  I also love Bart Yasso's book, My Life on the Run.  It is one of the best running books I have ever read and one of the few that has actually kept me engaged and interested from start to finish.  It doesn't bog you down in the boring details of 800s and endless mile repeats run around a track (although he has training plans and theory in there as well), it is a book of stories that comprise his journey as a runner.  The triumphs, the failures, the trials, and the hilarious and crazy events that so many runners can identify with.

I wish I'd thought of that first too.  And what a great title!  The perfect play on words.  Man, I wish I'd thought of that.

As I was thinking of all these great ways people have turned running into their life's work, I felt so...behind. Why am I just now joining the party?  Why am I just now deciding this is what I want to do with my life?  Has everything worth doing already been done?  Has everything worth saying already been said?  What do I have to offer the running community that isn't already available?

I am tired of sitting around watching all the great ideas fly by and waiting for one to fall into my lap.  "Here Jane, there is this great running program and we want YOU to run it."  That is really, quite literally, what I have been waiting on. I even thought I had a shot with the Fleet Feet No Boundaries program, but that went to someone else and I was so disappointed.  Director of a running program - THAT is my dream!  But I let it go and moved on.  Still thinking.... still dreaming.

So I've decided to act. I have decided to start my own business and it will be a private running coach company.  It is still in the beginning stages.  I'm filling out paperwork, ironing out the details, reading and researching what is already out there...and I am impatient to get started.  Actually, impatient isn't the word.  I cannot WAIT!  I feel a little unsure at times but that does not change my excitement, my resolve and my own personal call to action.

That's all I will say about it for now.  I want to have all my ducks in a row before I get things rolling.  I was hoping to have it ready by October 1, but I may need a few more days.  I will hold on to my day job at UAH as I grow my little business and continue with my classes and certifications... but the possibilities seem wide open and I'm no longer sighing as I watch all the great ideas go by.  I'm actively trying to start one of my own.