VANCOUVER June 24th 2015. Digital Champion Lynda Kerr was born and raised in Vancouver and is grateful everyday for the mountains, the river, the trees, and all the opportunities of living in such a beautiful city. Running wasn’t on Lynda’s radar until a few years ago when she signed up to train for the Vancouver Sun Run with some friends from work. The next year the group decided to train for a half-marathon and Lynda is excited to be conquering the distance again on June 28th at the Scotiabank Vancouver Half-Marathon! Connect with Lynda on Twitter and Instagram.
Inspiration! By Lynda Kerr
I am in the middle of a sea of people – colourful, healthy, 
happy. You beautiful runners. Race day is finally here, the finish line is a few hours away. I am surrounded by a feeling of spirit that will carry me (hopefully) to the end of the race. As I look around, I see a community, assorted and diverse. We all have the same goal, we’re all headed in the same direction, but what gets each of us there, our inspiration, is as unique as we are on the outside.
What inspires us to get from the start to the finish of a running race? What inspires us to even sign up for such an event? Here we are, today, all together. There was a moment, our own moment, when each of us said “YES!” and with friends or alone; training or maybe not so much of it; with dread, or anticipation, nursing injuries or anxiety. The excitement… here we go!
Are you seeking your personal best? Checking something off your bucket list? Are you running for a better body, a clearer mind or is it because you like to eat? Is it because, like Al Howie, you just need to run? Are you running because everyone else is and it seemed like a good idea a few months ago? Did you sign up for that run clinic to meet new friends, or maybe a new love? Are you running to get away from yourself, or maybe to have time with yourself? Are you running to fundraise, or in memory or for healing?
Each one of us has our own inspiration. The why. Here is why I am doing this. How come you are doing this?
- I was inspired by the challenge of becoming a Scotiabank Vancouver Half-Marathon Digital Champion. I really like to write and the idea of writing, and people actually reading what I write was quite appealing. So appealing, in fact, that I’d run a half-marathon for that.
- I am very inspired by the thought of running a personal best, that’s the thought…not the training.
- I am inspired by the people at Dixon Transition Society. See my fundraising page and information about Team Dixon, and please donate!
- I am inspired by the knowledge that this is a choice I have made, the choice to run, and that I have the physical and mental ability to run 21.1 kilometres. What keeps me going, what makes me push myself, is to acknowledge my good fortune, running with full appreciation of those who have physical challenges, mental challenges, life challenges; I appreciate my strong legs that can take me down the pathway; I appreciate my mostly pain-free body and the physical miracle of being human.
There are so many in this world who may never have the luxury of choosing to participate in a run, in Vancouver, on a beautiful day in June. There are so many who have to be tougher physically, mentally and spiritually then I have ever had to be. Oh, how lucky I am to be at the Scotiabank Vancouver Half Marathon, in this inspired community. You are in front of me, behind me, but most important around me, and your collective inspiration will carry me to the end.
Share you inspiration for running the Scotiabank Vancouver Half-Marathon on Twitter or Instagram using hashtag #ScotiaHalf! All answers will appear on our Social Hub.
