I wanted to take the time and dedicate this post to all of the readers and fans that have taken their time to write raving reviews for my books and gave me great feedback over the past 1.5 years of writing.
New runners are full of questions
Whenever someone takes the time to send me an email or message me, I try to take the time to answer their questions. The questions range from running a half marathon to injuries. Although my extra time is extremely limited due to a full-time job, 3 kids ( 1 that is 4 years old ), running, writing, and being a husband, I still get drawn back to helping people.
In my previous life, I was a computer programmer specializing in database development. Back then in my jobs, I was always the person that people came to ask me a question. I never barked back at anyone for asking the silliest of questions, nor was I condescending. Everyone has to start somewhere. Some of us that have a little more knowledge about a subject. I was once that new runner, super overly excited about running a half marathon. Not only was I excited, but fearful, questioning my abilities, wondering why I was doing this in the first place.
I’ve been down that road. I know what it feels like to be a new runner. After you cross that half marathon finish line you feel as high as a kite. Your body flooded with emotion and magic. I still feel it to this day and I have run 9 half marathons. Each run is a new journey, a new pathway, a new experience to share with your running friends. Writing has also opened up other doorways that I am still discovering.
They helped me more than I helped them
I wanted to take the time to say thanks to two particular people. Both of these people helped me more than I helped them, and they didn’t even realize it.
Louise F.
Louise was the first person that actually reached out to me and told me that she had run her first half marathon. This was a big sigh of relief. I still run the training schedules in my book, but this was the first real testimony that someone else had done it and told me!
I desperately needed those words of encouragement from someone else! In the front of the book I wrote, “If I can help just one person finish a half marathon, then all the time I spent writing this book would be worthwhile.” Thanks, Louise, and may you have many more successful races ahead of you!
Jimmy W. (NYPD)
Jimmy from New York sent me an email one day asking me if I could help answer a question. He was in the middle of his half marathon training schedule and he had been having some tight hamstring issues. One day an email arrived from Jimmy asking me what I thought about his situation with his hamstrings and being able to participate on race day. He decided to push through with his training and complete his first half marathon. He sent me a care package from New York that included a T-shirt and a sticker of the agency’s logo. DEA, which doesn’t stand for Drug Enforcement Agency in Jimmy’s line of work (which I didn’t know until I looked it up), stands for Detectives’ Endowment Agency. I greatly appreciate his care package! Thanks, Jimmy!
When I reach a point in my writing when I’m drawing blanks or I just question why I’m writing, I think of the people that I have already helped such as Jimmy and Lousie. Their accomplishments let me know that I’m doing something right that extends beyond me.
Why I do what I do
A few authors have asked me why in the world I give away my training schedule? I reply by saying have you searched google with the phrase, “beginner half marathon training schedule?” There are hundreds if not thousands of different training schedules for half marathoners. I went on to tell him that less than 5% of all readers that download my free training schedules actually buy a book. He turned and asked me, “so you basically aren’t making a living off of your writing?” I laughed wholeheartedly and explained to him that I wrote a book for two reasons. The first reason is simply that I wanted to write a book. The second reason is so that I could help people. This is totally fine with me. If my training schedule helped them finish a half marathon, then one of my goals is accomplished.
What’s your story?
If you have an amazing story or just want to ask me a question feel free to shoot me an email. I will take the time to share your story somehow in my blog or future video series (coming Summer 2019).
Scott Morton is the author of, Beginner's Guide to Half Marathons: A Simple Step-By-Step Solution to Get You to the Finish Line in 12 Weeks! (Beginner To Finisher Book 3), which has become an Amazon International #1 bestseller. Scott specializes in helping new runners become race finishers. He recently completed his 10 half marthon race. He is also an RRCA certified coach.To sign up for a FREE half marathon training schedule, log sheet, and pace predictor CLICK HERE.
To buy the entire series, Beginner to Finisher (6 eBooks), CLICK HERE.
