30-Day Blog Challenge #7

My Proudest Moment

When I think about my proudest moments, honestly, there are quite a few that come to mind. Getting my first job, buying my first car, getting my bachelor’s and master’s degrees – all of these felt great at the time.

However, if I had to pick just one moment that stands out above the rest, it would have to be the day I crossed the finish line of my first half marathon.

I know what some people are thinking – it’s not a big deal; thousands of people run half marathons every year. But it was a big deal for me!

You see, I never really wanted to run a half marathon. It’s just not something I wanted to do.

Me? Run a half marathon? 13.1 miles without stopping? No way and no thanks!

I am not one of those naturally athletic gifted people who loves to run. I don’t run unless I HAVE to!

When my friends first suggested that we train for a half marathon, my gut response was “HELLLL NO! I hate running.”

I was never concerned about crossing the finish line. The problem was that I didn’t want to put in the work to train for 13.1 miles.

But my run group did not give up on me. They kept selling me on the idea–saying it would be fun, that we would all do it together as a group, and cross the experience off our bucket lists.

After a couple of days of coercion, I gave in and agreed to give it a try.

Then came the months of structured training like I had never done before. We had a regimented schedule and planned every workout and everybody was committed to the same schedule.

During the week, we trained with cardio and resistance training. I was teaching group fitness classes at the time, so we had that part covered.

We also incorporated some cross-training to keep the training balanced and to work different muscle groups.

But what weighed on my mind was our Saturday “long runs“. I didn’t like the sound of it (and I still don’t).

Every Saturday until race day, we added mileage to our runs. So if we ran 2 miles the previous Saturday, then we would run 3 or 4 miles the following Saturday and so on.

They were small increases but I could feel myself beginning to get stronger. Because of the baby steps and consistent work each week, I wouldn’t feel sick or lifeless after our runs anymore.

My breathing became less labored. More importantly, I began to gain confidence in not just my running ability but knowledge that I was reaching my goals.

The camaraderie gained from our weekly training sessions made all the difference. If it weren’t for the group, I would have quit when the going got tough. That would have probably been around the week of mile 7 or 8.

But back to the sisterhood of it all: when someone felt like they were going to slow down, we would slow down to be together as a group. If a fellow member fell behind, we would run back, get them, and stay with them on the run.

We celebrated every little success we made.

Race day finally arrived, and I was both well prepared and nervous. Standing at that starting line with THOUSANDS of other runners from beginners like me to professional runners actually calmed me down.

With the exception of the elite runners who were leading the pack, our goal was the same –to complete the race. There was no competition except the one within ourselves. No awkward stares. Just a positive vibe!

When the sound went off (not a gun in this day and age) and we started moving, something clicked. All those months of training kicked in. My body knew what to do.

Mile by mile I kept running. One mile became two, and two became three, and by that time, I was in my zone with my favorite playlists rockin’ along the way. I had a good sweat going and my muscles were loose.

At mile 10 it was a shock to me that I was still running. I never walked. I didn’t even stop to pee.

I got close to mile 12 and started to get emotional. I could not believe that I (lil ‘ol me) was actually going to complete something that I hated and swore that I would never do.

I was almost there. I could actually make it. I was going to complete this course no matter if I had to crawl across.

The finish line was ahead of me at mile 13.1 and I was overtaken by so many positive thoughts and outward emotions.

Crossing that finish line was the best feeling I have ever experienced because I had accomplished something out of my comfort zone that required commitment, consistency, and discipline.

If it weren’t for the Good Lord keeping me healthy, and pushing through the months of doubts and training, I wouldn’t have been able to do it.

This is the proudest moment of my life because it taught me that the biggest barriers we face are often the ones we create in our own minds.

I spent so long convincing myself I could not, that I almost robbed myself of one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.

That half marathon was more than a race. Through the intensive training, I was learning some imperative life skills.

As a result, that “half” shifted my perception regarding the challenges we face as we go through this thing called life.

Instead of thinking “I can’t,” I now ask myself “What if I could?” Because sometimes with the right support, determination, and commitment, we can surprise ourselves with what we are capable of achieving.