When you hear or see the word athlete, what comes to mind?  Do you think of the pros?  Do you think of high school and college kids?  

Simply put, an athlete is a participant in a sport, exercise, or game requiring physical skill.   

If you would’ve known me growing up, athlete would not have been a word you used to describe me.  In fact, my high school yearbook would not have said anything like “mostly likely to become an athlete.”  

This shy introvert was not interested in sports.  After failed attempts at basketball and cheerleading in grade school and track in middle school, I swore off anything like that in high school.  

There's an athlete in all of us. #runmyrace Click To Tweet

It wasn’t until college that I started doing aerobic classes then eventually teaching them.  I also started walking and entering races as a race walker and eventually began running.  (All of that is a long story for another day.)

The point is this…no matter what age or stage of your life, there is an athlete in you.  

Don’t look at your daily walk as “just a walk.”   You’re participating in an exercise.  

Your daily stretching sessions matter.  You’re honoring your body by moving and caring for it.  

Don’t let comparison hold you back.  Oh how we allow this to distract us.  

The point is this:  It’s important to move.  Just move!  Our bodies change over the years, but we can still honor where we are today and move them in a way that works for right now, this stage in our lives.

Making the case that there's an athlete in all of us! #runmyrace Click To Tweet

Recently I was the Spotlighted Athlete of the Week on a virtual race series website Sea to Shining Sea.  Like I said earlier, who would’ve thought that??  

You can read the full story here.  

I share this with the hopes that it will encourage you and maybe even challenge you and help you take your fitness to the next level, whatever that looks like for you.  

There is an athlete in you!  

Are you following me on Instagram?  Come on over to find some motivation to move!  If you’re looking for a community of women to support you on your faith and fitness journey, please join my free Facebook group.