Welcome To Another Starting Line!
There Is Room Here For Everyone
Here we are at the starting line of 2024! And welcome to the first issue of Coach Bennett’s Newsletter in this new year! Thank you for subscribing and for reading Coach Bennett’s Newsletter. It’s so great to hear from you that the newsletter made you laugh or helped you on a run or maybe even made your day a little easier over the last year.
I write this newsletter for you.
And if you are one of the paid supporters of this newsletter… thank you for that too. It helps. It really does. I’m grateful that you consider the work I’m doing worthy of your support.
Cheers to everyone and let’s make 2024 an extraordinary year!
Enjoy the newsletter!
So, why are you here? Starting? Starting again? Starting over? Whatever your reason you’ve come to the right place. Because where you are is where you need to be right now. Because wherever you are there is a starting line. Yup. It’s true. Look around. Can’t you see them all? No? Let me clear a few things up first. It might help if you understand what a starting line really is. It’s not just a line painted across the road. You don’t need to be on a track toeing a white line either. A starting line can be anywhere. It can be the threshold of your front or back door. It could be the entrance to your school. The starting line you need to cross could be the first words of a hard conversation you need to have. Your starting line could be asking for help, offering help, giving forgiveness, saying thank you or I’m sorry, quitting a dead end job or leaving a bad relationship.
The starting line is just a place where you decide to move forward. It’s a place of excitement and fear. It’s a place where you can be confident and still have doubts. It’s somewhere where hope can always be found. It’s a moment in time that lives forever in the present. The past gets you there. The future awaits you on the other side of the line. And the future is nothing if not the unknown. That’s why a starting line has so many butterflies all around it. Those beautiful fluttering and flying insects… natures most excellent kites… they thrive at the starting line. Because butterflies live best in places that offer little to no guarantees. And the other side of that starting line only offers one guarantee - that there are no guarantees on the other side of the line.
This run could feel great. This run could feel… less than great. The conversation may go well or not so well or sideways. But the other side of that line is forward. It’s movement in the right direction. And yes, sometimes there are rough waters, rocky roads, and lonesome streets along the way… in the right direction. And I’ve got to tell you something here. This is why I love starting lines. This is why I hang out at so many of them. This is why I invite people to starting lines even though I know it’s not always easy to get over one. I know how hard it can be to come back to one. I know how scary it can be to stand on one. I know how frustrating it can be to lose sight of them.
But that’s why I know how brave the people are that show up to them. I know how hopeful the people are that find them. That’s how I know how powerful people are to get over them. And I know that it takes endurance and strength and curiosity and kindness to come back to the starting line. And that is why I’m there at the starting line. Because I am inspired and motivated by all of you that make your way to the starting line.
So, here at another starting line, please remember that you don’t need a new year or new week or new month to cross this line we (always) find ourselves on. And know that crossing that line isn’t about leaving anything behind or losing something. It’s about getting closer to where you need to be. It’s about making gains. And you don’t need to become a new you on the other side. The other side of starting line is not about changing. It’s about uncovering. It’s about you becoming more fully you.
Because that athlete standing there on the starting line… they are the ones that cross the line, take the strides, deal with the doubts, support themselves, believe, hope, and love what they are trying to do. They are the ones that give their best. Don’t wait until the finish line is crossed to celebrate the athlete that crossed the starting line. Who you are here and now… on the starting line… is the athlete that gets you to that finish. And that athlete needs to know just how badass they are. So, I’ll let you know… here and now… on this starting line… I think you’re a badass.
But I bet it would mean more to you if that came from you.
Cheers,
Coach Bennett
A LITTLE HAPPY NEW YEAR MESSAGE
What can I say? I love toasts. And I love getting to tell people thank you and cheers and congratulations when they deserve it. It’s one of the perks of being a coach. Because I get the opportunity to do this all the time. Granted, the perk demands that I also tell you when you’re being a jerk, making stupid decisions, not taking advantage of your many talents, failing to reach your potential, and leaving the track without picking up the trash you left behind. It’s worth it though. Anyway, Happy New Year and enjoy the little video message by tapping that beautiful face there.
A LITTLE WRITTEN HAPPY NEW YEAR (AND THANK YOU) MESSAGE
You didn’t think I’d only share a video message did you? Seriously? What did you think? That I’d get tired here at the end of the year? Come on! I’m the dude that tell you every finish line is just a starting line in disguise! Tap the picture to read a message that I wanted to share with all of you. It’s basically a thank you… a rambling thank you. But you all deserve it. So read it by tapping the picture. And thank you.
By the way that picture was taken back in 2014 in Central Park in NYC by the fantastic photographer Paulsta. He caught me running alone on my way to catch up to one of the many groups I had running that night with the Nike Run Club. It started snowing earlier that evening. And yes, it was as magical as it looks. You can check out his extraordinary work here.
START THE NEW YEAR RUNNING
Check out the last episode of Coach Bennett’s Podcast in 2023. Thank you for an amazing first 6 months. Start The New Year Running has really resonated with many of you. It’s a great episode for anyone and everyone that wants to go for a better run this year. I hope you enjoy it. Here’s a quick overview of the “chapters” I cover:
Running Is Supposed to Be Fun
Be Patient
Goals... So Many Goals
Flexibility Leads To Consistency
Diversity in Training
Fast Is Fun
Test Yourself
Strength Training Makes You Stronger
Feel All The Feelings
Be The Least Important Person In The Room
Take Care Of Yourself
Celebrate More
And if you enjoy Coach Bennett’s Podcast PLEASE subscribe on all the platforms you listen to podcasts, share and rate and review. Those four things make a big difference. Cheers and thank you!
BECOME YOUR BEST RUNNER EVER
It’s starting soon! This February I’m teaming up with coach tammie, mindset coach from the Show Up Society for this 4 week program.
join us in this month-long group coaching program to think about (winter) running in a whole, new way. a way that helps you feel empowered, energized and healthy.
no matter your level or experience, we will help you be a better runner.
when you stay consistent, stay motivated, and prepare properly, you’ll have more fun.
when you’re having more fun, you’ll show up for more runs.
and when you show up for more runs, you become a better runner.
Click here to get all the details!
Until Next Time…
Take care of yourself. Take care of each other. More starting lines await. And there is room for all of us. So invite someone to the line. You’ll be sharing the sport. You’ll be celebrating the sport. You’ll be saving the sport. And most importantly… you may be saving someone.
Cheers,
Coach Bennett
Happy New Year Coach! Thanks for the inspiration and courage to take the first step!