Running Your Own Race

This will definitely make the fourth post today.

I NEVER thought I will do this but I was sent an interesting story that we can all learn from. Why won’t I share this with you.

I am sure there are so many races we are running in our lives and this story will help us to run these races with the right perspective. You will surely learn something GREAT from this story. Let me know if it makes any impact on you

Happy Reading:

Think back to a time in your life when you tried something new.

When I was a teenager I volunteered to work the water station at a 10k
race. It was called the “Heaven Can Wait” 10k run and ironically, it was
sponsored by the local cemetery.

My job was to pass out water to the runners. I remember being so excited
to see all the different kinds of people who passed by and grabbed a cup
of water. Some ran past, some walked past and a few wheeled past. I saw
so many types of people doing it, I thought maybe I can do it too!

So the next year I signed up for the race and gave it a shot. Back then
I didn’t do much to prepare except jog around my neighborhood. I never
tracked how far I jogged, or timed myself, I just ran around. I had no
time goals for the race, no specialized training, no game plan, nothing.
Needless to say that I prepare differently when I run races today, but
back then my only goal was to finish.

On the day of the race, it was incredibly hot and humid. I remember
struggling at about the 5th mile, thinking, “I must be crazy, why did I
do this? What was I thinking? And at one point, I said, “I am never
doing this again!”

Have you ever felt that way about something? You eagerly undertake a
goal and in the midst of it comes a moment of struggle, and you realize
it is much harder than you imagined it would be?

That first 10k race was quite an experience. I jogged, I walked, I
jogged and I walked. At times, I didn’t know if I could finish. Then
came a defining moment.

At one point near the end, a 70 year old man ran past me, very very
fast, and I felt embarrassed that I was 50+ years younger than he and I
couldn’t even keep up with him. I felt defeated for a second. But then I
realized something. He was running his race and I was running mine.

He had different capacities, experience, training and goals for himself.
I had mine. Remember my goal was merely to finish.

How often in life do we compare ourselves to others and feel
disappointed in ourselves when we really shouldn’t? After a minute, it
hit me that this was a lesson I could draw from. I learned something
about myself in that moment. I turned my embarrassment into inspiration.

I decided that I would not give up on running races, in fact, I would
run even more races and I would learn how to train and prepare properly
and one day I would be one of those 70 year olds who was still running.
As I crossed the finish line, I was proud of my accomplishment.

I am so glad I didn’t give up on running. Today it is an incredible
source of joy in my life. I have run several races since then, 5ks, 10ks
and I run purely for fun. I have studied running books, made friendships
with other runners and I can report that I love it now more than ever.

In life we all have those moments where we compare ourselves to others.
It’s only natural. Don’t allow those moments to disempower you. Turn
them into motivation and let them inspire you. Use them to show you what
is possible. Every struggle is rich with opportunity. You define your
own race when you define your own goals.

With the proper preparation, coaching and conditioning, you can improve
your results to achieve anything you want in life.

The impact of fitness and nutrition on my life has been remarkable. I
can do things now that I could not even do in my 20’s all because of
coaching, proper nutrition and conditioning.

You decide your race and you decide your own pace. Rarely in life will
your destiny be determined by one little race.

“Success is a peace of mind which is a direct result of
self-satisfaction in knowing you made the effort to do the best of which
you are capable.” - Coach John Wooden

Life is a series of races. There are lessons in every race. There are
life lessons to be learned every single day. If you don’t win the race,
but you get the lesson, and grow, you are truly a success.

Live Your Dreams.

Jill Koenig

Jill Koenig, the “Goal Guru” is one of America’s Top Goal Strategist’s.
A best selling Author, Coach and Motivational Speaker, she is an expert
on the subjects of Goal Setting, Time Management and Business Success.
Her Goal in life is to help you unleash your untapped potential. Get
your free Goal Setting CD at: www.GoalGuru.com