I have to say that lately it feels I've been running a marathon.
Life events have been taking me for a roller coaster ride-
one I've been yelling to get off of...but for some reason the person manning this ride can't seem to find the stop switch.
Life is like that for us
all at times...no?
Relationships.
Illness/Cancer.
Kids growing up/Leaving.
People in our lives moving away.
Injury.
Job loss.
Finances.
I remember last year running my first 13.1 miles...looking back at all the "Full Marathoners" having to keep going and running that exact 13.1 miles ALL OVER AGAIN.
My only thought-
"How insane can those people be? They have to run what I just did, Again!"
But this year- THIS was the year I wanted to be the insane one.
So register for the 26.2miles I did.
And trained diligently for several weeks- before some strange foot injury struck.
Huge disappointment.
It also meant I couldn't start my small "job" as a running instructor.
Another disappointment.
Week after week went by and I gave up the hope of running my marathon.
Life events continued and took their toll.
I considered myself off the Marathon List for this year.
Yet it lurked in the back of my mind.
And my thoughts~ (and I have plenty!)~ played out something like this:
What IF I could conquer it even without the "proper training"?
Even with all the things going on in my life right at present...
why couldn't I see if it was one thing I could conquer in this crazy life right now?
Really...
Each of us could consider our lives exactly like a marathon.
A continuation of mile after mile of adventure- or misadventure... for us to travel.
And NOT ONE OF US has trained ahead of time to live out our lives- have we?
No one can be prepared for what lies around the next turn, the next mile.
We just Do It.
Because we have to.
It's called Life.
And so.... the night before the race, I decided that I would run my first 42.2km run the next morning.
I would tackle it head on...and cross the finish line whether I ran through...or crawled.
And I did.
I finished my first Marathon.
Not in a record time by any means.
In fact- it was 40 minutes longer than the goal I originally began training for.
But the fact that I did it in a time where everything around me said it probably wasn't possible,
made me hopeful for what we all can be capable of.
Even in circumstances that aren't so great and beyond our control.
I think all of us have it in us to run a Marathon.
A "Running Marathon"...
or the "Marathon we call Life."
We do it because we have to.
Or need to.
But the point is...
we all have it in us to DO it.
We just have to Want to.
Now go run your Marathon...
wherever & whatever,
and however that may be!
~~~~
(Race Report to follow on my "Journey to Tri" blog...once my roller coaster slows down a little.)
Life events have been taking me for a roller coaster ride-
one I've been yelling to get off of...but for some reason the person manning this ride can't seem to find the stop switch.
Life is like that for us
all at times...no?
Relationships.
Illness/Cancer.
Kids growing up/Leaving.
People in our lives moving away.
Injury.
Job loss.
Finances.
I remember last year running my first 13.1 miles...looking back at all the "Full Marathoners" having to keep going and running that exact 13.1 miles ALL OVER AGAIN.
My only thought-
"How insane can those people be? They have to run what I just did, Again!"
But this year- THIS was the year I wanted to be the insane one.
So register for the 26.2miles I did.
And trained diligently for several weeks- before some strange foot injury struck.
Huge disappointment.
It also meant I couldn't start my small "job" as a running instructor.
Another disappointment.
Week after week went by and I gave up the hope of running my marathon.
Life events continued and took their toll.
I considered myself off the Marathon List for this year.
Yet it lurked in the back of my mind.
And my thoughts~ (and I have plenty!)~ played out something like this:
What IF I could conquer it even without the "proper training"?
Even with all the things going on in my life right at present...
why couldn't I see if it was one thing I could conquer in this crazy life right now?
Really...
Each of us could consider our lives exactly like a marathon.
A continuation of mile after mile of adventure- or misadventure... for us to travel.
And NOT ONE OF US has trained ahead of time to live out our lives- have we?
No one can be prepared for what lies around the next turn, the next mile.
We just Do It.
Because we have to.
It's called Life.
And so.... the night before the race, I decided that I would run my first 42.2km run the next morning.
I would tackle it head on...and cross the finish line whether I ran through...or crawled.
And I did.
I finished my first Marathon.
Not in a record time by any means.
In fact- it was 40 minutes longer than the goal I originally began training for.
But the fact that I did it in a time where everything around me said it probably wasn't possible,
made me hopeful for what we all can be capable of.
Even in circumstances that aren't so great and beyond our control.
I think all of us have it in us to run a Marathon.
A "Running Marathon"...
or the "Marathon we call Life."
We do it because we have to.
Or need to.
But the point is...
we all have it in us to DO it.
We just have to Want to.
Now go run your Marathon...
wherever & whatever,
and however that may be!
~~~~
(Race Report to follow on my "Journey to Tri" blog...once my roller coaster slows down a little.)
25 comments:
Well done Dawn
I can always count on you to say it like it needs to be said. I've often taken comfort in John Lennon's words, which I'll probably botch here: Life is what happens when you're busy making plans.
Somehow, you figure it out and move on. Your strength inspires me, Dawn.
Oh Dawn congratulations.
Life does have a way of making you do things you are not necessarily ready for but have to do.
Love this post Dawn you are so smart.
Take care my friend The ride does get rough but we will handle anything because we have to and support from friends and family help.Thinking of you. HUGS HUGS B
Congratulations, Dawn. What an inspiration to all of us (I still don't see myself running a marathon, but I do have other goals I'll keep pushing to achieve)
How awesome! I'm thrilled you got to run it. Congratulations!
A mighty effort, it would take a lot of mental toughness to withstand that amount of pain. Just like life I guess. Congrats.
congratulations DawN!!!
an amazing accomplishment
love and light
Way to go, Dawn. You are such a strong woman and such an inspiration. I'm glad to hear from you. You are in my thoughts and prayers. Hope life evens out for you soon so you can catch your breath.
I have the card you sent in my sewing basket, I take it out and I pray for you and I sit and think about you. I was wondering what you had been doing. It is funny you wrote about this because so often I feel like I am in a marathon and I didn't train, or the latest one was I felt I have been running and running but then they moved the finish line and I don't know if I have the strength for the next leg of the journey.
So it does happen. I am glad you went ahead and did your marathon just because sometimes I think it is so important to do that hard thing so when the new hard thing comes, we know we can push through.
You are amazing Dawn.
Way to go! Glad you choose to follow your instincts, and by doing so, the run acquired even more meaning. Congratulations, Dawn. Few people ever run marathons; you did it with an injury and didn't let anything else stop you.
Well done to you Dawn
I think you are great for having done this.
Take care
x Fiona
So true that we all have our life marathons, and some of us are better prepared than others.
Congratulations on completing a real running marathon, and overcoming your personal challenges.
You have expressed a sound Life principle extremely well-LIFE!
Congrats on Marathoning Up, and conquering one of life's hurdles. When the Devil says you Can't--just have Faith that you can--and then DO!!!
Thanks for helping me put some STUFF in perspective!
John
you are a woman of drive and determination! you could probably handle a roller coaster ON a speeding freight train...while knitting a pair of socks. ;o)
Very impressive Dawn, specially given the injury you've had to deal with! Becoming a marathoner is a huge accomplishment that no one can take away from you no matter what happens. Hopefully you are stile smiling about it :).
As for the rest of your life happening, this should give you strength and confidence that you can tackle anything you set your mind to.
Looking forward to your next adventure.......
40 minutes off your target time? You need to train harder....:-)
Kidding!! I was kidding... Awesome achievement. If I don't know you were Canadian, I'd say you had the heart of a Texan...:-)
congrats to you dawn, you can do anything, in life and in marathons.
i'm not running a marathon, i am climbing a mountain. one foot in front of the other, we can achieve anything we set our minds to!!
Nice race completion, I seem always on the run.
Well done, Dawn. A wonderfully inspiring post.
It takes courage to see a race through as you've done, Dawn! Congratulations!!
Congratulations on your achievement. Hoping you have a much better year.
"Quitters never win and winners never quit"....you my dear are a winner in any venue.
Oh excellent, Dawn. Good for you. This shows the strength and determination you possess. And that will help you to get through the rest. Yay, you!
That was so darn inspirational Dawn! Thanks for that! You really got more than your share of fortitude! GREAT post!
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