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| Kara Goucher (my friend Laura took this at the Olympic Marathon Trials in Houston. Taken the moment she realized she would qualify. WOW.) |
I was just at our local Starbucks for a meeting and while waiting in line, a runner came in. She was hot. She was sweaty. And she looked like she was going to cry.
“How many miles are you doing today?”
“I’m supposed to do 14.”
“Are you training for a marathon?”
“Yes, NY. But today I’m really thinking about quitting.”
We chatted while we waited. I told her about training for Chicago during the Dallas summer and how many times (especially once I got into the double digits!) I just wanted to hang it up. After all, I am a smart, successful woman. I don’t NEED to complete this dang marathon. What I NEED is a pedicure and maybe a margarita.
So I told her that. And then I told her how thrilled I was when I did my dream race. When I crossed that finish line. And that she’s almost there – if she quits now, she’ll always regret it.
I got her water for her and sent her back out on her way yelling (at the bewilderment of the Starbuck’s patrons I’m sure) “YOU GOT THIS!! DON’T QUIT! YOU’RE ALMOST THERE!!!”
So I am passing this conversation on to you, Dear Reader. You who want to quit. Throw in the towel. Lay on your couch and watch TV. There are only a very few things I know to be true with all my heart and they are (in order of importance):
God loves me
I love my husband and my children (and they love me back)
YOU CAN FINISH THIS TRAINING AND DO THIS RACE
I believe in you. You’re almost there. Don’t give up. Keep fighting. And come and tell me when you’re done because I want to tell the world your story. (and if you need even more motivation, go read this about my friend, Deanna. That’ll do the trick for sure.)
Happy Running!
Jen 
I needed this today… my legs are in pain, I feel defeated. I feel like I can’t do the half I’m training for. I plan on doing the 13.1 practice run on Sunday just to see what it will be like. And secretly to see if it is really going to be possible to finish and if I can’t finish to bow out in shame with no one looking. This gave me a push. Thank you for this post… the Lord works through people we don’t even know!
YOU CAN DO IT, MONICA!! And this just became my favorite comment on the blog EVER. That’s why I do it – God does, indeed, use all of us to encourage each other. I’m proud of you and I KNOW you can finish what you started!
So I think I need to put you on speed dial so I can call you when I am out on my long runs and just want to stop. Last week I caught the death of all colds and I have not gone for a run since our TDF race almost two weeks ago. I am running a 5K and 10K back to back on Saturday morning and I am getting nervous I will not be able to run it! Going out at lunch for a test run…
YOU CAN DO IT, Stephanie!! I know you can!! TDF was only 2 weeks ago and you ROCKED that so honestly, even if you’d done nothing between then and now, I think you’d be absolutely fine!! Woohoo!!!!! (how was that?;)