Last week I ran in my first half marathon. Why? Because I randomly put it on my bucket list. Why? Because it was just something to do. Why? Because not many people can say they ran a half marathon… Honestly…… I really don’t know why I picked that of ALL things. Especially since I’m not a fan of running AT ALL. and low key have asthma lol. But I did it. I didn’t even tell anyone I signed up and finished.
In Jan. of 2019, I started preparing. Mentally lol. I really had to plan it out. I started making smoothies for breakfast to ensure that I got my servings of fruits and vegetables. I marked the calendar for when to start my physical training and what exercises and stretches to do. I even got some new gear, as motivation, from Active Faith Sports (first time actually buying stuff since I know longer get it free for coaching volleyball lol).
Feb. 18th rolled around and I officially began. Running 3-5 days a week. 2-5 miles a day, with Saturdays being a long running day gradually increasing distance every week. (Buffalo Marathon provided a nice training guide that helped me). To be honest, I never actually ran 13.1 miles before this half marathon. The furthest I got in training was 9. (I had a lot of vacations and what not towards the end of training #dontjudgeme). And since Buffalo weather is stupid, 98% of my training was done indoors. So when race day came, and it was like 50 degrees, I legit had on an easy dri pullover hoodie, a long sleeve dri fit shirt, full length leggings, gloves and a head band over my ears. lol (the gloves and headband came off around mile 3. The hoodie came off around mile 7).
It wasn’t until the day before the race that I had an epiphany. I finally realized why I was running in this race. It was more than just crossing something off my bucket list. It was more than just a physical test of my strength and will power. I was running for my life. I literally ran every mile with a purpose. The goal was to let go of things holding me back and run forwards towards greatness. I literally wrote words, scriptures and quotes on pieces of paper and miles 1-6 I threw them out.
Mile 1: I let go of fear & doubt –
“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. – Philippians 4:6 New Living Translation (NLT)
Mile 2: I let go of regret & guilt
“Never regret anything you have done with a sincere affection; nothing is lost that is born of the heart.”– Basil Rathbone
Mile 3: I let go of passivity and indecisiveness.
“Indecision is a virus that can run through an army and destroy its will to win or even to survive.”– Wendell Mayes
“Passivity is the dragon every woman has to murder in her quest for independence.”– Jill Johnston
Mile 4: I let go of sickness and pain. “
Pain is weakness leaving the body.”
Mile 5: I let go of Injustices.
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere” – Martin Luther King Jr.
Mile 6: I let go of Generational Curses.
“It’s up to us to break generational curses. When people say it runs in the family, you have to say this is where it runs out.”
I needed extra motivation after mile 6 since the bulk of my training runs never went much further. So instead of letting go:
at Mile 7: I pulled out Love.
“Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self. Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have. Love doesn’t strut, Doesn’t have a swelled head, Doesn’t force itself on others, Isn’t always “me first,” Doesn’t fly off the handle, Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others, Doesn’t revel when others grovel, Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth, Puts up with anything, Trusts God always, Always looks for the best, Never looks back, But keeps going to the end.”– 1 Corinthians 12:4-8 The Message Bible (MSG)
at Mile 8: I pulled out Confidence.
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” – 2 Timothy 1:7 New King James Version (NKJV)
at Mile 9: I pulled out Assertiveness
“To be passive is to let others decide for you. To be aggressive is to decide for others. To be assertive is to decide for yourself. And to trust that there is enough, that you are enough.” ― Edith Eva Eger
at Mile 10: I pulled out Strength.
” I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me.”(which was actually on my hoodie) -Philippians 4:13 King James Version (KJV)
at Mile 11: I pulled out Health (Spiritual, Emotional, Physical, Financial etc..)
“Learning is the beginning of wealth. Learning is the beginning of health. Learning is the beginning of spirituality. Searching and learning is where the miracle process all begins.” -Jim Rohn
at Mile 12: I pulled out Peace & Patience
“Patience is being at peace with the process of life.” – Louise Hay
at Mile 13 as I crossed the finish line: I pulled out Purpose.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” – Jeremiah 29: 11 New International Version (NIV)
I already told you guys I was dedicating this year to figure out my passion purpose. And even though I still don’t know what it is, I know for a fact I’m moving in the right direction! Everyday. Reminding myself what I let go of and what I’m working towards.
My friends, I encourage you to pick something and just do it! Just start. Push through and learn in the process. And when you meet that goal, when you cross that finish line, all that hard work, that dedication, that discipline, that determination, that effort you put to make things happen will make that moment 100 times better.
Dear Future, 