Our July #MOTRstrong instagram winner, Tracy

Congratulations to Tracy (aka back.of.the.pack.runner) from our St. Paul Highland Moms on the Run location for winning July's #MOTRstrong Instagram contest! She wins two registrations for the Women Run the Cities 5k/10k/10mile race on Sunday, Sept. 24. Not only does she take some awesome photos, but she also shares some fantastic insights that we wanted to pass along to you.

Why do you run?
I run because I LIKE IT. I like the runner's high (hello endorphins!). I like being able to move (I spent the first 3/4 of my life as a couch potato). I like how I feel when I sprint up a hill. I like how I feel when I'm exhausted after a run. I like being out of breath and sweaty. I like putting one foot in front of the other. 

I run because I like it. 
I used to run to get faster, lose weight, beat a pace at a race, beat a fellow runner, best myself. Then I had a HARD year where none of those things were happening. I was getting slower. I gained some weight. I came in closest to the back at races than I ever had before. I felt like I had failed all my reasons WHY I EVEN RAN. So I tried to quit. 
I missed it. I missed the endorphins. I missed my friends. I missed breathing hard and sweating. 
So I changed my why. I starting running because I like it. I don't have hard time or distance goals. I'm not constantly thinking of how many calories I'm burning. I'm running because I like it. 
Another one:
I didn't want to go tonight. I lay on the couch and came up with 100 excuses. I secretly hoped hubby would have to work late. I just didn't wanna do it. 
But I asked my teammates for a pep talk. They told me I'd feel better when I was done. And they were right! It was a hot, humid, slow 55 minutes, but I did it. And I feel good. 
#achievement #fistpump #motrstrong#lovemyteam #slowrunner#plussizerunner#humid #summerrunning #overit #readyforfall
You will not want to miss out on our August contest! It is sponsored by Twin Cities In Motion and is one registration for the Medtronic TC 10 mile race on October 1, 2017 in Minneapolis, MN! For more details, see our Instagram Contest Blog.

We would like to thank our 2017 #MOTRstrong Instagram Contest sponsors for making this all possible:
Choices Psychotherapy, Scheels, Women Run the Cities and Twin Cities in Motion. Find all the contest details here.