Make sure your worst enemy doesn’t live between your own two ears.
~Laird Hamilton
The very first time someone told me they aspired to run a marathon, I thought to myself, Who does that? Although I was very impressed, I was convinced this type of running adventure had nothing to do with me. Marathons were reserved for exceptional individuals.
I grew up in Flint, Michigan, where a great majority of my youth was consumed with basketball. And if I was told to run without a ball being involved, it was because I failed to follow instructions during practice. Running long distances for me was a form of punishment.
Nevertheless, as a high-school athlete, I stumbled upon running as a method of conditioning during the off-season. Running became a means to improve endurance and stamina. In fact, I credit running with giving me the “edge” I needed to land a spot on the basketball team. I realized running could have some benefits, but I still wasn’t convinced it was an enjoyable thing to do. Later, as my athletic career vanished and my life moved on, I decided to hang up the old running shoes, still viewing them as punishment.
During the winter of 2005, life began to deliver a series of blows. First, I received a pink slip from my employer. I was doing what everyone else was doing — average work, but not performing at an elite level. Only co-workers who were willing to go beyond what was expected remained.
The second blow came in late 2006, when I was served divorce papers at my new job. I came home to a house that was cleaned out. Suddenly, my newly constructed dream home became a bachelor’s crib. I thought to myself, I’m doing what all the other young husbands are doing. Why is this happening to me? I was reacting to life’s circumstances instead of being proactive in creating the life I desired.
The third blow came in 2007 when I was no longer able to pay my mortgage. Although I agreed to put the house on the market, it eventually went into foreclosure due to being deeply underwater.
I let these negative events define my life. I was losing complete control. I decided to move back to my hometown of Flint, Michigan. While trying to recover and rebuild, I stagnated. Soon, I realized I was just going through the motions.
I began searching for something that would renew my strength and change my circumstances. I lent my full attention toward my faith with a daily morning routine of prayer. As I prayed, I felt in my spirit that I needed to be active and moving. It was as if God was telling me that I had to move forward. I had to take control and own my life. I was the only one who could change it.
So, in my restlessness to figure things out, I started running to relieve stress. Slowly, I began to incorporate a short run as a part of my meditation time with God. Running became symbolic of how I was moving forward with my life. Quickly, I noticed how I felt more alert, energized, and less stressed after each run.
With my new habits of running and prayer, things began to turn around. One day, I encountered a lady standing in line at the bank, wearing running apparel. Intrigued, I inquired about her attire and was informed she had just completed a daily run. Because I was a novice at running, I was curious to hear from someone with experience. She was thrilled to share her passion and invited me to join her running group.
The group met once a week in various neighborhoods throughout the Flint area. Their purpose was to prepare for the annual 10-mile Crim race. As a novice runner, I never gave such a race a thought. But as a member of the running group, I was encouraged to give it a try.
The group provided support, insight, and tips. I learned what shoes to wear and what food to eat. I discovered techniques for pacing myself during a long-distance run and became confident that I could actually complete a 10-miler. Most importantly, I learned the power of drawing from the strength of other like-minded individuals to help me not only pursue my running goal, but to go beyond my limited expectations.
One day, I came across an online trivia quiz about the history of the marathon. One lucky winner would be selected to win a free entry into the Chicago Marathon. The accommodations included a high-rise, luxury hotel in downtown Chicago. I took the quiz for the fun of it, and I won the prize! I was so excited about being the winner — until I realized that I had won a prize to run a marathon! Huh? As I deliberated over accepting the reward, I thought, This is an opportunity to stay in a beautiful hotel on the Magnificent Mile in Chicago.
So, just before my 30th birthday, I embarked on a mission to complete my first marathon. I put in hours of training, including a series of smaller races leading up to the big race. While training, I learned to put one foot before the other and to keep moving. I stayed focused by using the three Ps that I use in every area of my life: pray, prepare, and pursue!
On the day of the race, I experienced a range of emotions. I wasn’t sure if I was capable of this task despite all my preparation. I began having negative thoughts. In fact, before the race, I decided that I would run about 10 miles, and then veer off-course to catch a taxicab.
But then I realized that the only thing stopping me from reaching my goal was me. I began to change my mindset by changing my self-talk. I prayed for strength and was well prepared for the race; now it was time for me to pursue the quest I was sent to complete. As I ran, I felt the push from the crowd and the other runners. In that moment, I said to myself, “I got this!” This simple phrase pushed me across the finish line.
Running that marathon taught me invaluable lessons. I learned that once we take ownership of our lives, we gain control to complete our goals. We may have to seek the support of other like-minded individuals to help build our courage and stay inspired, but the only person standing in the way of our own victories is ourselves. It’s time for us to show up and be exceptional!
— Sherrod C. Schuler —