I love running. I use to Hate to Run but after a dare from a friend I completed my first Half Marathon this past June 2011. It was a great accomplishment for me. It was almost just 1 year ago I gave birth to my second child and I had NEVER run more than 2 miles before that. I didn’t shatter records, but I came in at 2 hours-not bad for a newbie.
But it was something that was hard. My “resolution” for this year was to pick something each month that scared the pants off of me and give it a go. And you know what, I have done LOTS of things, talked to LOTS of people and I’M STILL ALIVE!! Its a new mindset I have that makes all the difference. Its coming out of the uncomfortable that makes you grow.
I want to share a thought with you:
It was May 6th 1954 and one of the greatest individual athletic achievements was reached. Roger Bannister pushed beyond what doctors, expert trainers, even family and friends thought possible: He broke the 4 minute mile. He crossed the finish line in 3 minutes and 59.4 seconds. He didn’t shatter the record, it was less than a second difference, but he did it. He didn’t let what other people say could or couldn’t be done dictate what he strived for.
But get this, the story isn’t over.
Just 6 weeks after he broke the 4 minute mile, another man John Landy broke it again, in 3 mins and 58 seconds. They even raced each other later that year to see then who really was faster and while Bannister won with 3 mins 58.8 seconds and Landy finished in 3 min 59.6 seconds-it was the first time two men in one race had broken 4 minutes.
And the story continues
Within the next 3 years, 16 more runners logged a sub-4 minute mile and less than 10 years, the first highschool kid did!
Why after all those years of runners trying and trying did they finally accomplish their goal? Because the physiological barrier had been broken. For years, while runners tried, EVERYONE was telling them it wasn’t possible-so OF COURSE they weren’t going to make it happen because they were LISTENING to those who told them they can’t. Once someone did it, there was nothing holding them back.
So what is it that you want to do but aren’t because others-or even yourself- is saying it can’t be done. Go right now and shout as loud as you can- I CAN DO IT. I AM DESTINED FOR GREATNESS. And if that sounds weird or awkward to say-say it again and again and again until it comes natural and you BELIEVE it yourself
People who say it can’t be done shouldn’t stand in the way of the person who is doing it.
I love what you just said. I just ran my 3rd half marathon in 1:59:42. My goal was to get under 2 hours. I did it. And boy did it feel great. I worked so hard and felt so proud when I reached my goal. Now I have a new goal to get to my prepregnancy weight 17 more pounds. I want to feel that great again.