I’ve been thinking about my post yesterday. Mulling it over and over and I’m afraid I might have come across with a message I never intended.
I ran a half marathon.
That’s no small feat. It’s a feat I never imagined I would be able to say I had conquered. Ever. In my life.
I ran my fifth half marathon.
That’s a big deal. To me.
Yes, I was a little disappointed with my overall time, but I did it. I made it to the finish line healthy and happy.
Never for one second was I angry or upset.
I kept thinking during the race about how I had wanted to run this exact race last year, but I wasn’t ready. I was just barely in the middle of training for my first half.
It was surreal that a year later I was running it as my fifth and as a training run for my first full marathon.
I don’t take my progress on my journey toward better healthy lightly. Oh no! I have fought and clawed my way through too much to ever take it for granted. I’ve poured too much sweat and too many tears to ever forget.
There are times when the path I’ve traveled on over the past 2+ years begins to grow a little foggy, but it never fades away.
Every time I lace my shoes up and head out for a run, I’m thankful.
Don’t lose sight of how far you’ve come. When you are tempted to become discouraged, look back. As long as you are moving forward, that’s progress. You’re not in the same place you were before.
You see that girl on the far right? She couldn’t have done what I did Sunday.
But, this girl? She’s no longer held back.
It’s okay, healthy even, to challenge yourself . . . to become competitive with yourself. It will bring change. Isn’t that what we all want?
BUT
Don’t allow that competitiveness to rob you of your joy.
Choose to move forward with determination and look back when you need inspiration.
xoxo
Ruthanne
