Met my running inspiration yesterday...made her cry...

For years, I had seen a woman running in my town. She parked her car in a school parking lot right near my house, and I saw her run for hours and hours. It was watching her that planted the seed in me...that I could do this weight loss thing...that I could be a runner.

I've wanted to catch her to say hello for quite some time now. Finally, after 5 years, the timing worked out, and I saw her at her car as I came home from food shopping yesterday. I told her she was my inspiration, that she had been for years. She started crying. She said she once weighed 200 lbs. (she's a little thing now...probably about 110 soaking wet), and she had no idea that she'd ever inspired someone.

It was a good thing to finally meet her. :-)
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Replies

  • 3dogsrunning
    3dogsrunning Posts: 27,167 Member
    Aww, that is really sweet and so awesome.

    :flowerforyou:
  • MissAnjy
    MissAnjy Posts: 2,480 Member
    That must have been an awesome moment for both of you :)
  • tmauck4472
    tmauck4472 Posts: 1,785 Member
    Awe, that is so awesome. You made her day and she made your life, how awesome is that :smile:
  • 12by311
    12by311 Posts: 1,716 Member
    You've made me tear up this Monday morning! That is amazing.

    We really never know who is watching us live our life!
  • Lissette_Brooks
    Lissette_Brooks Posts: 173 Member
    And this just made me cry. :)
  • jeffininer
    jeffininer Posts: 204 Member
    Feel good story :) I love it!!!
  • fleetzz
    fleetzz Posts: 962 Member
    That is so cool!
  • SonicDeathMonkey80
    SonicDeathMonkey80 Posts: 4,489 Member
    I tried this once on a girl and got a restraining order in return, but cool for you :)
  • leantool
    leantool Posts: 365 Member
    That is simply great,you probably inspired her just as much by your acknowledgement to keep up her good work.
    Amazing of both of you
  • jldubyah
    jldubyah Posts: 11
    I love this story. :flowerforyou:
  • iRun_Butterfly
    iRun_Butterfly Posts: 483 Member
    That's wonderful! I bet you made her day. I know reading this brought a tear to my eye as well as a smile!
  • Greywalk
    Greywalk Posts: 193 Member
    how awesome we should thank people more often.
  • monkeywizard
    monkeywizard Posts: 222 Member
    She inspired you to be a better person, and you made her cry.. good job!

    seriously though, It was cool that you said something to her. It obviously meant a lot to her to hear that.
  • One day, you'll unknowingly be someone else's inspiration, too.
  • MayMaydoesntrun
    MayMaydoesntrun Posts: 805 Member
    Pure awesomeness. From both of you!
  • scrapjen
    scrapjen Posts: 387 Member
    That is great that you tried and did make that happen ... nice to pass on the good things!
  • likitisplit
    likitisplit Posts: 9,420 Member
    For years, I had seen a woman running in my town. She parked her car in a school parking lot right near my house, and I saw her run for hours and hours. It was watching her that planted the seed in me...that I could do this weight loss thing...that I could be a runner.

    I've wanted to catch her to say hello for quite some time now. Finally, after 5 years, the timing worked out, and I saw her at her car as I came home from food shopping yesterday. I told her she was my inspiration, that she had been for years. She started crying. She said she once weighed 200 lbs. (she's a little thing now...probably about 110 soaking wet), and she had no idea that she'd ever inspired someone.

    It was a good thing to finally meet her. :-)

    :)
  • sarahevenstar
    sarahevenstar Posts: 70 Member
    How wonderful for you and her! This story made my day.
  • angf0679
    angf0679 Posts: 1,120 Member
    Awesome!! You probably made her day!
  • Pangea250
    Pangea250 Posts: 965 Member
    I tried this once on a girl and got a restraining order in return, but cool for you :)
    LOLOLOL!
  • mochapygmy
    mochapygmy Posts: 2,123 Member
    What a great post! So glad you finally were able to meet.
  • quiksylver296
    quiksylver296 Posts: 28,439 Member
    That's wonderful! I bet you made her day. I know reading this brought a tear to my eye as well as a smile!

    Yep!
  • sylvuz323
    sylvuz323 Posts: 468 Member
    Very sweet.
  • GretchenReine
    GretchenReine Posts: 1,374 Member
    What a great story! I'm sure it meant a lot to her!!!
  • Capt_Apollo
    Capt_Apollo Posts: 9,026 Member
    that's really nice that you were able to say that to her.
  • SezxyStef
    SezxyStef Posts: 15,267 Member
    I think it is wonderful you got to tell her.

    It's an odd thing to hear you have inspired someone.

    She could have been having a very bad day etc and you may have just helped her keep on track.

    I know that when I hear that from people it makes it even easier to stay the course...they may be strangers but if you inspire strangers imagine how you make the people you know feel...and if you let people down...well...it's a reason to keep going.
  • sbro32
    sbro32 Posts: 130 Member
    I love this story, and I love people like you. Taking the time to tell this woman what she did for you was a really generous act. Good for you! And I'll just bet that you're someone else's inspiration!
  • Timelordlady85
    Timelordlady85 Posts: 797 Member
    Thats amazing! I hope to be someones inspiration someday myself. :)
  • Wish I had a good experience during my run. All I had was some nut in a truck ran a stop sign and tried to see how close he could come to me when I was crossing the street.

    Glad you are inspired. Please keep it up.
  • Flacachica
    Flacachica Posts: 328 Member
    That is a sweet story. How very nice of you to let her know!

    I have a few that inspire me right here on MFP! I tell myself, if they can do it ~ so can I! :)