Thursday, July 18, 2013

Run Your Own Technology Race

Ten years ago, I ran in my first half-marathon. Some friends at work and I had decided in August that we would run in the Mercedes Half-Marathon the next February, so we started our walking program and progressed to running. To prepare for that upcoming marathon, we ran in a 5K (3.1 miles) in October. I still remember the nervousness I felt. I had to decide what to wear, find the registration tent, get my race number... and that was all before the race even started! 

There were a lot of people just grouped together at the starting line. When I started with the crowd, we took off from the starting line with a bang. There were people in front of me and people behind me... there were runners who passed me during the race and runners who had started fast and I had caught up to and passed. What I learned from that race has helped me in other races that I have run, including those in life: Run Your Own Race.

It's tempting to start too fast, to feel like you have to keep up with the runners in front, not to let others pass you... but you have to run the best race that you can run. If you start too fast, your legs, lungs, and spirit can give out before you get to the finish line.

I see this sometimes with technology use in education. We hear about someone else using a particular app or website or program, and we think we need to use it, too. We can get hit with overwhelm if we try to learn everything there is to know about social media, technology in education, apps, programs... ad nauseum. 

It's important that we each run our own races. We "train" (practice tech use), we get "faster" or run "longer" (learn more resources, get better with tech), and we feel a sense of accomplishment for what we have done. 

In what other areas can you Run Your Own Race?


  1. Absolutely! I love to run because I can go my own pace. Technology isn't about using the tool for the sake of technology. It is about equipping students and teachers with life skills. Technology programs have to be adapted to what is best for each system and school. Amen sister!

  2. Great point. And just like running, in technology, many people feel "out of shape," and shy away from using technology.

  3. Melinda, I agree. Using it for the sake of using technology isn't student-centric!

  4. Audrey, I love that analogy! Sometimes we don't even start something because we're too busy comparing ourselves to others when we need to just be the best "us" we can be. Thanks for your comment.



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