The principle is competing against yourself. It's about self-improvement, about being better than you were the day before. -Steve Young
So as I went into my 4th week of my 18 week marathon training program, I was full of doubt. Doubt that I'd have the time to train properly, that I'd be able to meet my time goal. The doubt that I'd let myself and my coach down. The crazy thing is that I know that I can do anything I set my mind to. I am blessed to have the good health to be able to train for another marathon. As Samuel Johnson said "Great works are performed not by strength but by perseverance."
I must thank my Mother and Papa who always told me all things are possible if you believe in yourself. And they spent a great deal of time helping me to believe it! I am so grateful to have such a supportive family, husband, and circle of friends to cheer me on in all I do and encounter in life.
But at the end of the day it is really only ourselves we must depend on. No one else can run my miles for me, eat right for me, or keep me mentally strong.
So as I was running my 13 miles on Monday, Labor Day I realized just how much I do love to run. I run because I'm sad, because I'm happy, I run from things, and towards them. I run alone and with groups of friends and groups of strangers. People often ask that question of me; Why do you run? I usually quip something stupid like "I don't really know, guess I'm crazy". But of course I wouldn't be training for my 6th marathon if that were the real reason.
My company Milestones Jewelry recently started carrying a line of clothing with inspirational sayings on the shirts and the one that rings the most true for me is the one that says "I RUN...for MYSELF". I run for achievement, to keep myself in check, to realize that some days things are difficult and others are easy. I run to be outdoors, to experience the weather. When I worked in corporate America, some days I'd have no idea what the weather felt like that day because I was in an office all day. I love the feeling of being so tired that I think I can not take another step, and then I love more the feeling I get when I dig down deep and go another mile, or 20. I love crossing the finish line, the emotions of completing a task I have been training for for over 4 months. I always cry as I cross the finish line of a marathon or usually when I can see it. All the emotions, the ups and downs, the missed runs, the extra mileage, the sacrifice, the pain, the runners high, the gratefulness of my good health & the people who have supported me and sacrificed for me. The people who are there in spirit.
So now as I complete this blog, doubt is gone, at least for a while. I know I have a long 14 weeks ahead of me. I'm sure I'll come back and read this entry many times before I lace up my shoes and stand nervously at the start line of the Jacksonville Bank Marathon on December 19th, 2010.
My goal is to be standing there and have NO DOUBT that I will run my best race ever. That I have put in what I expect to get out. That I am strong, and will again experience a high that I will never be able to put into words. So I will continue to blog about my journey to that start line, and how much it parallels life in general.
Remember you have only one chance at this life, ENJOY THE JOURNEY!
