I've said it before on my blog that so much of the focus in running revolves around runners setting goals. In most cases these goals are the exact same as the majority of other runners.
WHY do our running goals need to be the same?
WHY do our methods to reach them need to be the same?
Is a goal or method bad if it's unconventional?
Here's a link to an article about Yuki Kawauchi who amazed the world yesterday with his Boston Marathon win. He's good example of someone who did things his way (the article reveals how different his training is from other elite racers). Anyone watching him at the finish would have been able to see his pure joy of accomplishment.
A further example is the second place women's Boston finisher Sarah Sellers. The media was left scrambling to figure out who she was. Turns out her background is totally unconventional as well.
These two were a perfect reminder to me right when I needed it most. You don't need to have all the bells and whistles to be a runner and you don't have to want what everyone else wants to find joy in the run.