Ok, so I’m not exactly a couch potato – I just hate, really, really hate running.  So, it was quite a surprise when I decided that I wanted to complete a Marathon.  Yes, that’s 26.2 miles.

A couple of years after my divorce, a Jazzercise instructor announced that she was building a team to compete in the Annual Walt Disney World Marathon.  The only requirement was being able to complete a 16-minute mile (that’s a fast walk or slow jog but no running involved!!!).  The instructor assured us that if we trained properly, we could do it and she would show us how.

Why did I think this was a good idea?

  1. I was bored.
  2. I was lonely.
  3. My heart was telling me that this was one of those life-defining moments.

So, a group of us started training.  It was slow at first, but each week we increased the miles.  I had a plan and I was committed.  I woke up at 5 am during the week to train before I went to work.  I went to bed at 9 pm on SATURDAY night so I could meet my team at 6 am on Sunday.  I gave up Happy Hour.  I started eating healthy food.  I learned to love Vanilla GU.  Bio Freeze became my best friend.  My life revolved around the training.  All I could think about was crossing the finish line and getting the medal.

The day of the race soon arrived.  As the team waited in the corral for the gun to go off, we could FEEL the electricity in the air.  I was FOCUSED and knew that nothing was stopping me, that I would cross that finish line and get that medal.  The first 20 miles flew by but then each additional mile became more and more challenging.  I pulled a calf muscle and for a moment thought I may not make it.  I watched as other marathoners fell off, injured or too exhausted to continue.  Still, my team and I persevered.  “Just one more mile,” we kept telling each other, “just one more mile.”  The last mile seemed to last FOREVER but then I saw the finish line.  I used every last bit of energy to run (yes, I RAN!) over the line, under the flags and collected my medal to the sounds of the cheering crowd.  As I caught my breath, felt my heart flutter and wondered if I was going to throw-up, an immense sense of pride took over.  I had done it!  I had completed 26.2 miles!

As the girls and I were celebrating with champagne and cheeseburgers, I realized that it really wasn’t about the finish line or the medal.  What it REALLY was about was:

  • Having the COURAGE to take a healthy risk and do something I never even imagined I could do.
  • Trusting that there are people who are WITH ME from start-to-finish, no matter what.
  • Making a COMMITMENT to myself and working with a Coach who gave me a realistic PLAN, held me accountable and SUPPORTED me along the way.

Truth is, LIFE is like a Marathon.  It’s not about the finish line, it’s not about the medal.  It’s about everything else — your dreams, your goals, your laughter, your tears, the aches and pains and the PEOPLE you share your life with.  Mort importantly, though, it’s about staying TRUE to and HONORING yourself and your DREAMS and NEVER giving up!

What are YOU yearning to do?  Is there something that your HEART is telling you to do but don’t know how to do it?  What are you waiting for?

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