Would I ever run a marathon? Today's answer: Major doubts. I would love to, but I just can't muster up the gumption to get it done. I'm not sure how I'd incorporate the training into my life as a group fitness instructor and mother. Two things that exhaust me in their own ways.
So when Kelly of New Leaf Wellness offered to write a guest post about this very subject—training for and running a marathon when it seems like the very epitome of impossible—I jumped at the chance to host her words. Enjoy:
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I’m training for my first marathon in September. That means I’m going travel 26.2 miles…on foot…next month…willingly. Am I crazy? Probably.
I’ve run eight half marathons. The thought of running double that distance seems impossible. Yet, here I am, training for my first full marathon. Why? Because I like new challenges. Because I like the peace and quiet I find on a long run. Because running makes me feel like “me.”
Nelson Mandela said, “It always seems impossible until it’s done.”
I’ve had other big goals before that seemed impossible:
• To finish my Ph.D. – done
• To give birth to my second daughter without any drugs – check
• To start a business that I am insanely passionate about – done
There’s something about big dreams that makes them feel exciting yet unattainable at the same time.
When I’m working as a coach, I ask my clients to separate their dreams into small, more manageable pieces. I ask, “What can you do this week to move closer to your goal?” One step at a time.
On Saturday, I ran 15 miles. At mile 13, I felt the same doubt creep in. “How are you going to run TWICE this distance?!?”
It always seems impossible until it’s done.
I’ll focus on finishing one training run at a time until race day.
Question: What have you accomplished that seemed impossible when you started? What big goal would you take on it you knew it was possible?
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