It Was Never About Running - It Was About Overcoming

These days I call myself a runner. Though that wasn't always the case.

In fact, I came to running late. Sure, I was always somewhat active, but I didn't start running until I was in my 30s when I got really hooked though I'm far from the best or the fastest. I remember signing up for my first half marathon in 2010, thinking it sounded like a real challenge to do something that physically hard, and boy was it! It kicked my butt, and I kept thinking "why the hell did I sign up for this???". But the feeling when crossing the finish line was exhilarating. And it taught me so much about mental, emotional, and physical resilience.

Since that time in 2010, I've run more than 30 half and full marathons, because every time I do so I learn something new about myself.

Here are three things I've learned:

1. Don't give up. Every time, during every race, there's a moment when running really sucks. And I mean, really sucks. But every time I think to myself, I signed up for this, and I know I can overcome this, too. These feelings of negativity, exhaustion, doubt will pass, and I know I'm able to go the distance. - This, to me, is just like real life. I guarantee that there will be moments in your life when things are going poorly, where things suck, where you want to give up, but let me tell you that you've got way more inside of you than you will ever know. Mentally, emotionally, physically, spiritually. So go ahead and set a goal in your life (relationship, job, education, travel, exercise, experiences), commit to it and do whatever you can to meet the goal, even when it's hard. The feeling you'll get when you complete it is worth it's weight in gold. And it will improve your life in ways you can't even imagine today.
2. Carry water and snacks with you. When you run anything over a half marathon, you'll want to carry water or food with you or else you'll struggle to get to the end. Trust me, you can't run a marathon without drinking some water or eating some food along the way. And the longer the distance the more you'll need to prepare. So why is this relevant to real life? Well, for whatever challenge you are about to undertake, make sure you prepare with the right tools, mindset, skills, and attitude. Taking on a new job but not preparing with the right learning/attitude/skills will result in disaster. Getting into a relationship with someone who has wildly different goals and ideas than you will probably not end well. Becoming a parent without reading, listening, or planning is a surefire way to always be reacting instead of guiding your child. So my advice to you is to make sure you prepare for what's ahead. There will be twists, turns and surprises in your journey, and certainly moments of doubt or confusion, but the more you prepare the better equipped you are to handle it all.
3. Surround yourself with amazing people. Anybody who runs regularly, and especially longer races, knows that having a supportive and positive network of people around you is key to success. These people will help you overcome fatigue and doubt, and keep you motivated to always stay positive and do your best. They literally are your best cheerleaders. And so it is in real life, too. Surround yourself with people who make you better. Always. Being around people who make you a better version of yourself is key to overcoming anything, whether at work or in your personal life. I'm lucky that I work with an amazing team who are always looking for positive solutions to challenges that make our outcomes better for everyone. And in my private life I'm surrounded by the most positive, loving, caring, and smart people who are always cheering me on to do better. People who are passionate about what's possible and carry a growth mindset with them. So look at your work environment and if it's not perfect, see what you can do to be the one who lifts up everyone else. Become the positive person that everyone gravitates towards. And in your private life, make sure you are surrounded by amazing people who make you better than you ever thought possible. Trust me, like in a race, they will be the difference between failure and success.

If you've read this far, I want to thank you! But you know, it doesn't really matter if you are a runner, biker, hiker, walker, yogi, bootcamper, soulcycler, reader, seeker... what matters is that you are setting yourself up for success by giving yourself the tools to overcome anything in life.

Because it was never about running.... it was always about overcoming.

Go for it, you've got this!