Never in my wildest dreams did I think I could run three miles. Running that far was not something I thought I could do. I can’t even run on a treadmill. So when my friend asked me to join her marathon relay team, it was an easy answer: No. I’m not a long-distance runner.
My only experience with running anything greater than a sprint was in high school when I had to run laps around the track. I was always fine on the first lap but by the time I got to my last, it was more a zombie shuffle rather than a run. So there was no way I was going to voluntarily sign up for a race. I just couldn’t do it. It wasn’t me.
Hearing my trepidation, my friend told me there were programs designed to help people who’d never run three miles before. Intrigued, I looked into it. It looked pretty straightforward. I didn’t need to run three miles right away, the program slowly built up toward that goal.
Since it seemed so doable I decided to give it a try. I had nothing to lose. And to make sure I stuck with the program, I signed up for the marathon relay team as well. I figured even if I couldn’t run the entire three miles I should be able to walk it by the end of my training. My goal wasn’t to get the fastest time but to finish. I was pretty sure that was achievable.
The first two weeks of the program were about getting the body used to running. After this initial period, the training began in earnest. And it was intense! Each day we were running longer with fewer and fewer rest periods. It was hard! To stay motivated, I would remind myself how good I was going to feel – both physically and mentally – when I was done. I stuck with the program and sure enough, by the end, I was able to run three miles. A feat I always thought impossible.
What I’ve learned
Through that experience I learned the greatest hindrance to my success was me. My thoughts determined my behavior and as long as I believed I couldn’t do something. I couldn’t do it. It was a self-fulfilling prophecy. I’ve sabotaged my performance even before I started.
I’m more open-minded and willing to try something new now, even if it’s hard. I’ve learned success or failure begins in the mind. I believed my body was incapable of running three miles. I was wrong. It not only ran three miles but also six. And it turns out I enjoy running. This is why I tell my family and friends “The only obstacle that prevents me from doing something is me.”
Transformation begins when you change the way you think.