Who Am I?

I am an avid runner and have been running since I was 15 years old. I began running low to medium distances while on my high school track team, running the 800 meter and 1600 meter races (I was a sub 5 miler and a 2 minute 800 runner). In addition to the track team, I also joined the cross country team. After high school I still wanted to run and decided to start doing road races. I have probably ran a couple hundred 5k races (16.29 PR)along with many 10k's as well. In 2009 I decided to step up my game and try to tackle my first marathon. I will be honest; the only reason I did this was because my father ran a few and I wanted to show him that I could do what he did. I trained poorly for my first one and regret it. If you are going to run a race, train like you want to win. I still continue to run marathons and other distances as well, and every race is a chance for me to better myself.
I started this blog to hopefully communicate with other runners and to shed any knowledge I may have about the sport that can help other runners. I believe running is the best sport and can be a great stress reliever. I encourage all runners to spread the word of our sport and show people why running is so good and why the community of runners has such great people. You can follow me on twitter @byrne1324 or find me on facebook- Shaun Byrne

Tuesday, December 31, 2013

2013 Year In Review

     As 2013 comes to a close and I look back on the year I realize that this year has made me love running more than ever. Not only did I grow as a runner and learn so much about myself, but I learned something about the running community in general; we are a family.

      On April 15th 2013 the running community and the country was disheartened when terrorists attacked the finish line at the Boston Marathon. I remember watching it all unravel on TV and praying for all the runners and the victims. Once the suspects were apprehended I began to wonder how this will affect the running community. Will races across the country be cancelled? Will people be afraid to come and cheer on runners, afraid of the “what if’s”? However, something amazing happened. Races across the country opened their arms to the runners of Boston. Some races that were already sold out were letting the runners run free of charge so they could still cross the finish line. Races all over were now running for Boston. Run for Boston and Boston Strong became slogans with shirts being worn during races and signs being held in the crowds.
     I ran the Pittsburgh Marathon which was only three weeks after Boston. One week before the Pittsburgh Marathon I broke my toe and was told running the race would be the most painful thing I would ever do. The doctor was right; I was in extreme pain for most of the race. I had made a shirt with my name on the front and on the back it said “I run for the fans, I run for Boston”. A broken toe was not about to stop me, I too wanted to show my support for all of the spectators that were injured that April day. As I ran (with a lot of walking as well) through the streets of Pittsburgh, runners were patting me on the back and telling me they loved the shirt. The crowd was cheering me on, motivating me to finish. As I crossed the finish line I didn’t care about the time that day. The race had more of a meaning. It was our way of saying we will not live in fear; we will continue to live day to day and do what we love. Spectators and runners came together and made races across the country have more meaning.
      Those races in the days and months to follow, the running community was there for each other the way a mother would be there for her son or the way an older brother would look out for his younger sister. We stood by each other like a family.

      I have always said runners are the greatest people you can meet. When you are down they will lift you up. When you need a push they are behind you and when you need someone to carry you a mile or two they are there for you. So as I look back on 2013 and think of all of the races and goals I have accomplished none mean more than standing strong with my family, my family of runners!

"Bad things do happen; how I respond to them defines my character and the quality of my life. I can choose to sit in perpetual sadness, immobilized by the gravity of my loss, or I can choose to rise from the pain and treasure the most precious gift I have - life itself." - Walter Anderson

4 comments:

  1. Props for covering 26.2 with a broken toe! I love how popular running has become post Boston. It sucks that had to happen to get people out there, but it shows that good can come from evil.

    I like the shirt you made for Pgh.

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  2. Thanks for liking the shirt also I agree since boston out sport has became way more popular and hopefully the new people embrace it as much as we all do!!

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  3. I am so glad we connected through pghrunner! I am so with you on the "running community" thing. This past year more than ever, I have met so many amazingly inspiring runners and have witnessed and felt unwavering support. Hope 2014 rocks for you!

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    1. Thanks!!! Hopefully 2014 is also a good year for you as well.

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