Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton
Ready… Set… Go…. I am very much the friend that if you tell me your ideas I go on a mission to make it even better or take it to the next level. I will cheer you on and push you to no end. I’ll tell you put all those “noes” in your bag of “noes” and keep pushing. It’s the power of numbers, you will eventually get to a yes. It’s safe to say that I a supportive friend. I can be all this for my friends but I sit on the sideline for myself. How many of us do that? We downplay the talents, gifts, or abilities we have because we don’t want to take the leap. We watch and even encourage others to take that leap but still sit on the sideline.
Sooooo for my birthday I decided to take a leap and run my first 5K. Running had never appealed to me at all. ZERO PERCENT. Seriously, why do runners look so happy all the time? Initially, I started this for my 28th birthday but life happened. I guess the joy of goal setting is that you can reevaluate it at any time. I reset and was determined to make it happen for year 29. I was so intimidated by running that I refused to sign up for a running program. Sounds crazy I know. Plus, my inner Frugal Fran spoke up and agreed that a running app would do. With this goal I didn’t want to look like runner. You know, buy all the gear and let it collect dust. I made certain milestones and then rewarded myself with a purchase of needed items.
I told key people in my life so that they could hold me accountable for my training program. I had to apply the discipline that I have in other aspects of my life to this goal. The downside of using a running app is that you really have to push yourself. Everything is on you. This was a challenge for me because like most people I have a million things going on. Make sure dinner is cooked, is my son reading 20 minutes a night, this meeting, that meeting. I mean really it can go on and on if I allowed it. I just took a step back and prioritized this goal for myself.
Secretly, the race morphed into more than just training to run. I was proving to myself to stop sitting on the sidelines. Stop over thinking everything and just do it (no pun intended). I was so nervous leading up to the day of the race. I questioned everything and thought of all the extremes that could happen. I took on the attitude of defeat before I even ran. Did I run enough? Maybe, maybe no. Did I drink enough water? Well I hope so. What if I walk the entire time? So what. I set a goal and I accomplished it. Cheers to 29!! Thanks for joining me!
A Beautiful Mess 