This past weekend, I was running a 5K in the pouring rain at the Berkshires Marathon thinking three miles wouldn't be too bad. Of course it didn't occur to me that the entire course could possibly be made up of endless killer hills. So the three "not too bad" miles turned into three, "when is this torture going to end" miles from hell. As I reached the top of one hill, I could see the next one coming my way. And did I mention that it was pouring? A few times I wished for windshield wipers on my eyelids (someone should invent those by the way) because the rain was making my vision blurry and my face cold.
But even as my legs were about to fall off and the freezing rain chilled me to the bone, I didn't stop running. I kept moving with an "I can do it" under my breath. Why? I wasn't so sure at the time, but as I thought about it afterwards under a very hot shower, I realized that I knew deep down that if I had stopped, it would have been harder to start back up again. After all, I had to finish this race no matter what. My family was waiting for me on the other side and they kind of need me around.
How many of us experience this in our daily lives? We start executing a new venture or throwing our sticky noodle and when the rain falls and the pain starts, we quit. We stop fighting. We give in to the uncomfortable. It feels good for the time being, but as we play the traffic light game of STOP and GO, it's inevitable that GO feels harder the more you STOP.
When I want to give up, it's essential that I keep going. Even if it means doing a little less that day or going a little slower than usual. The important thing is, that I'm being consistent and finding ways to move ahead. After all, we're all trying to get over a million never ending killer hills. That's life. And as I get over each one, I find that the next always gets a tiny bit easier.
As I found myself running the last mile, (God knows how) a new energy ran through my body because I was still there. I was still running. I was still in the game. As soon as I hit the finish line, I could no longer feel my legs, but at least it was over and I did it. I wasn't stuck playing the game of STOP and GO on mile two wishing the race would end or that a helicopter would come pick me up on a stretcher. Instead, I was eating a banana and drinking a great big glass of water. I did it and although it was hard, I finished what I started. So finish what you start. I guarantee it's easier than STOPPING and having to build yourself up again to GO. Just GO and keep GOING.
How many of us experience this in our daily lives? We start executing a new venture or throwing our sticky noodle and when the rain falls and the pain starts, we quit. We stop fighting. We give in to the uncomfortable. It feels good for the time being, but as we play the traffic light game of STOP and GO, it's inevitable that GO feels harder the more you STOP.
When I want to give up, it's essential that I keep going. Even if it means doing a little less that day or going a little slower than usual. The important thing is, that I'm being consistent and finding ways to move ahead. After all, we're all trying to get over a million never ending killer hills. That's life. And as I get over each one, I find that the next always gets a tiny bit easier.
As I found myself running the last mile, (God knows how) a new energy ran through my body because I was still there. I was still running. I was still in the game. As soon as I hit the finish line, I could no longer feel my legs, but at least it was over and I did it. I wasn't stuck playing the game of STOP and GO on mile two wishing the race would end or that a helicopter would come pick me up on a stretcher. Instead, I was eating a banana and drinking a great big glass of water. I did it and although it was hard, I finished what I started. So finish what you start. I guarantee it's easier than STOPPING and having to build yourself up again to GO. Just GO and keep GOING.
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