I checked something off my bucket list today. Today I did something I never thought I would do. Something I thought I never could do.
Something that seemed impossible.
21.8 kilometers. 21,082.41 Meters. 23,056 yards. 69,168 feet. 830,016 inches. 2108640.64 centimeters. 21,082,406.4 millimeters. 13.1 miles.
To some this may not seem like much. But to me this was quite the accomplishment. I ran my first half marathon today.
You see- I am out of shape, overweight- based on a medical chart, and I haven’t trained in months. But I committed to this race in December and I was determined to finish what I started.
I told myself, If I’m gonna do this- I need to know what I am really capable of. Running this race has taught me that I am capable of so much more than I ever imagined.
(The half marathon and the race of life)
When I crossed the start line this morning , I thought- what did I get myself into?
By the end of the day I learned, you must expect great things of yourself before you can do them.
I didn’t give myself near the credit I deserved. I didn’t need to place and I wasn’t trying to beat a time. I just wanted to finish. I wanted the satisfaction of knowing I could accomplish my impossible.
As I ran I would talk to myself…
One step at a time.
I can do this.
You are stronger than you think.
The Lord will carry you.
You can do anything you put your mind to.
What’s ahead of you is never greater than what’s within you.
I can and I will.
I won’t stop. I can’t stop.
Believe you can- and you’re halfway there.
I can do this.
I can do this.
I must of said I can do this 242,262,627 times during my run.
I would pray. I would worship. I would speak positively over myself. And I would run. I looked down- and I just kept running. 1,3,5,8,12… the miles would just pass by.
It was hard for me to understand at first the whole idea was not about beating the other runners. It became quickly apparent the competition was against the voice inside of me that wanted me to quit.
I never stopped, and I never said I can’t. All I could do was fill my head with positive thoughts. Then I would speak them out load.
Positive thinking brings positive outcomes.
The positive thinker sees the invisible, feels the intangible, and achieves the impossible.
When you’re running it doesn’t matter whether you come in first, in the middle of the pack, or dead last. If you can say I FINISHED- well there is a lot of satisfaction in that alone.
Today I realized I can. I can do anything I put my mind to. One of the greatest feelings is accomplishing something that once seemed impossible.
I didn’t beat the impossible today. With a little hope, and some self encouragement, I just redefined my impossible.
