Read the signs

?So, I ran in the Dallas Marathon last week. Just the relay, no 26.2 for me this year, (but there’s always next year). The leg I ran was challenging with hills, twists, turns and the wind: I can’t forget to mention the wind. It was a cold, whistling wind that announced itself every step of the way. The hills, twists, turns, and the wind they were all there – but so were the people.

When I reference people, I’m not talking about the other runners. I’m talking about the people who braved the cold and lined the streets to cheer the runners on. They stood there cheering offering the runners water, Gatorade, fruit, cookies, beer, and wine…smiles, high fives…you name it.

And with the crowds, come the signs. Yes, the signs that are a part of the race culture. Crowds lining the sides of the streets holding signs, filled with words of encouragement – words that stay with us long after the race has been completed…

You CAN do it: Road races are hard. The pounding your body takes during training, the sacrifices you made, and the discipline required to compete can take their toll. It all pays off when you line up on race day…but even then, doubt has a way of sneaking in.

Are you ready, did you run that far…train that hard and what about that day you missed? You listen to it for a minute, reflect and respond. Yes, I’m ready, I did run that far, train that hard and about that day I missed – I earned it. And at the end of it all, you’ll realize – You CAN do it.

Life is like one big road race, and it’s hard. You’ll go through times when you question yourself – don’t be afraid to answer. You’ve come too far, worked hard, some of the things you never thought you’d accomplish, you really did. Anything that was missed, chances are you earned it. When you add it up…you’ll begin to realize that no matter what you’re looking to accomplish, whatever goal you’ve set, no matter how insurmountable it may appear to be – You CAN do it!

I believe in YOU: It might seem inconsequential in the hands of a stranger, but trust me, those four words hold a great deal of power at the bottom of a hill when you’re questioning why you began this journey.

I believe in YOU – if they’re powerful when a stranger speaks them, imagine how powerful they can be when spoken by or to someone you love. Today, make it a point to tell someone close to you that you believe in them. One more thing…you might be my lifelong buddy, or you might be a stranger, but either way please know…I believe in YOU!

You were built for this: One of the biggest misconceptions I’ve run into since I began running is that marathoners are supposed to be small and thin, barely weighing over 150 when soaking wet. But when you arrive on race day – you see people of all different shapes and sizes…some big, some small, some somewhere in between. They’re all there ready to start and finish because…because they were built for this.

Some days you get started and wonder if you have what it takes to finish. You look around at everyone else and start to think they’re just right while me…I’m too this too that or the other and there’s no way I can get this done. When those days come, steady yourself, calm down. Most of all, remember, no matter how you looked when the race starts…you’ll finish with flying colors – because you were built for this!

You’re doing more than most: One of the biggest mistakes I made when I first began running was competing against other runners. I would look from side to side and say I’m beating this guy or this girl. The more races I ran the more I began to realize, no matter what place I finished in … I was doing more than most.

Yesterday, today, or at some point in the future, you’ll probably look at your life and wonder how you missed this goal or the other. You’ll beat yourself up over not getting that corner office, never losing that extra 10 pounds, so on and so forth. Once you’re done beating yourself up, pick yourself up, pat yourself on the back, look in the mirror and smile big and understand – you’re doing more than most!

You can walk, just don’t stop, keep going: My first half-marathon was in the summer of 2012. I didn’t train, I just showed up thinking I’d run until I reached the finish line. That plan worked until mile 9 when the sun began beating down on me and I snatched my dream of running across the finish line. I didn’t have enough in me to run, but instead of stopping and taking a ride to my car, I walked.

Whoever said you always had to run during the race of life, lied – plain and simple. There will be times when you’re so tired that you feel like you can’t run any further. During those times, feel free to walk – just don’t stop.

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Life is one big race and no matter what comes your way, know that you can do it. Even if no one else does, know that I believe in you! Doesn’t matter what you look like, if life brought it to you, you were built for this! When doubt creeps in, and it will, know that you’re doing more than most. No one ever said you had to run all the way. When you get tired friend, don’t be too ashamed to walk but no matter what you do…

Keep going.