Our mission at Run Gum is two-fold: to fuel AND inspire people.
We help fuel people to make the most of their busy days with our revolutionary energy gum, but we also aim to inspire others with the content we put out and the way we live our lives.
I'll let you in on some truth though, it is difficult to be inspiring if you yourself are not inspired!
In these times, I always look to the people around me.
Having been a professional athlete, I understand why many look up to their favorite athletes. But, oddly enough, professional athletes have never really inspired me. Maybe it is because I understand what goes into making a great athlete (namely genetic talent and a ton of money); it's hard for me to feel inspired by them. Don't get me wrong, I know first hand just how hard these men and women work to become, and stay, professional athletes, but one thing I am learning is that nearly EVERYONE WORKS HARD... not just us athletes.
So who inspires me?
When I was young, my dad inspired me, and he still does through the way he spends his time and treats his family.
When I went off to college, I met Coach Sam (co-founder of Run Gum), and he inspired me with his work ethic and his successes.
Political leaders, social workers, philanthropists have all, at one time or another, inspired me as well.
As my transition from pro athlete to 9-5er continues, I am always amazed how hard my fellow Americans work. Truly, it is these everyday Americans that inspire me most. Somehow they find a way to balance work, family, hobbies, fitness, etc.
It's incredible!
As a pro athlete, it was really simple to get my workouts in, I had very few other obligations each day.
Now, I wake up at 6 AM, Monday through Friday, head to the gym before I go to the office.
When I'm at the gym, I look around at all the other people working out: moms, dads, brothers, sisters, grandparents, etc. They all choose to make sacrifices to be up early and into the gym before work because their fitness goals are important to them.
This spring, it is these people who are getting me excited to get out the door.
So if that is you, a very heartfelt THANK YOU!!
Your friend in fitness,
Nick Symmonds