As summer wanes and fall draws ever nearer, I hope that all of you who committed to running a race this coming season, whether you stepped out of your comfort zone and signed up for your first 5k, challenged yourself with a new distance or took a risk on a marathon for the first time or the 50th, remember this: the celebration begins when you approach the STARTING line.
As you stand at the starting line regarding the task ahead of you with a mix of excitement/trepidation/fear, reflect on the journey you took to get there. The days/weeks/months you committed to training. The trials and tribulations. The heat, the rain, the doubts, second guesses, and injuries. Hopefully you delighted in that elusive runner’s high, maybe you crashed and burned. Probably all of the above. All of it is part of the journey. YOUR journey. Maybe you learned something about yourself along the way: About strength, tenacity, perseverance, overcoming obstacles.
So many variables go into the perfect execution of a race; many of them beyond your control. No matter what happens during the race and no matter what the outcome turns out to be, remember it’s the journey you took to get to the starting line that truly matters. So in those anxious, final pre-race moments, as you await the starting gun, take a deep breath, commend yourself and be very proud of your accomplishment!
Good luck this weekend in Madison! I look forward to your race report.