I’ve just crossed the finish line and I’m breathing heavily and gratefully, surrounded by other runners who have also trained hard. I’ve made it this far for so many reasons: a strong support network, nested goals that felt achievable on a day to day basis, preparation in combating projected pitfalls in my training. I’m decidedly not here, just having completed my goal, because I had a perfect training plan or because it was easy. It was difficult to reach this place. It was a struggle. The challenge of it didn’t disappear over time. I failed sometimes. I ate junk food, skipped runs, slept in and contemplated giving up. Negative self-talk sometimes shouted down the part of me that felt I deserved happiness and health.
But each time I gave up, I thought about what it would feel like to cross the finish line. I knew I would feel strong, vibrant, excited to be in my own skin, insanely proud of myself. Beautiful and capable and radiant.
And so each time I had a setback I made the decision to continue on, to do what was hard in the moment but completely worth it in the long run. I remembered that I’m not a quitter; I’m a finisher. I’ve made so many mistakes and look how I’ve learned from them! Making mistakes is inevitable, natural, necessary. I’m stronger, more confident in my abilities, self-compassionate. Happy I didn’t give up.
