Labor Day in the United States was established to celebrate the contributions of workers – the people who put their blood, sweat, and tears into creating the infrastructure of the country and keeping it running. Regardless of what type of job anyone holds, we can all appreciate the value in celebrating the work that we do to (hopefully) try to make the world a better, more functional place.
Runners in general, and the athletes on our team in particular, are a hard-working bunch. Most of our team members work at least one other job to make ends meet, while also training very hard, often twice a day, nearly all year round. It’s not an easy or glamorous pursuit. However, what I see in them that makes it all worth while is the love of that work. Sure, it feels really rewarding to win races, run PRs, or gain external accolades. But what keeps these athletes in the sport is a powerful internal drive that is built on the love of running and a desire to explore their personal limits. It’s hard work indeed, but it’s a labor of love.
Chris Lundstrom is the head coach of Minnesota Distance Elite – formerly Team USA Minnesota – which includes some of the top distance runners in the USA, including Annie Frisbie, Dakotah Lindwurm, Breanna Sieracki and Joel Reichow.
