By Amy Begley
It happens to all of us – sometimes you wake up and have a hard time getting out of bed to go for a run. Finding a running buddy or signing up for a training group are great ways to keep you accountable, just ask Nigar Scott.
Nigar travels more than 700 miles each week to attend four workouts with Atlanta Track Club’s In-Training programs. That’s more than an hour in a car to get to each session. And she says it’s all because of the people who run with her.
It wasn’t that long ago that Nigar was leading a sedentary lifestyle. She ended up having three surgeries on her feet. While Nigar was recovering in a wheelchair, she found an appreciation for the ability to move. In 2013 when her doctor gave her the green light to become more active, she started walking.
Before long, Nigar was signing up for 5Ks, then 10Ks. She decided late in 2015 that she wanted to transition from walking to running, so she joined a 5K training program despite the long drive she’d have to make to participate. One of the run leads noticed Nigar’s progress and encouraged her to join the half marathon training program as well – she jumped at the chance.
Nigar says even though she puts a lot of miles on her car each week to make training practices, the support and motivation she receives is worth it. She says she’s learned to push herself beyond her limits thanks to fellow participants and run leads. “You will never find this kind of spirit or teamwork anywhere else,” Nigar says.
So when you can’t seem to push yourself to lace up and get your miles in, look for others who will make sure you’re working towards your goals. It might seem inconvenient at first, but think of Nigar who drives all those miles each week just to meet up with her training partners.
Amy Begley is the head coach of Atlanta Track Club, the second largest running organization in the United States. She competed in the 2008 Olympic Games in the 10,000M and placed sixth in the 2009 IAAF World Championships in the same distance with a personal best 31:13, making her the eighth-fastest American woman in history. Her 5,000M personal best is 14:56. Begley finished her professional career with six national titles.
