"I press on toward the goal..."

today, i accomplished something huge.
today, i succeeded at my goal.
today, i did something i never thought i'd be healthy enough to do.
i ran my first 5k and ran it straight through with good time. running a 5k has been on my list of things to do for quite some time but i've never been healthy enough to do so. so i decided to make it my goal, find a friend to run it with so that i would continue to be enjoyable, and go for it. before the race, i spent a good 10 minutes preparing my friend because i didn't think i'd be able to run it all. i was telling her that she was okay to keep going if i had to start walking. i had a lot of doubts about my abilities and was beginning to get nervous. when signaled to start, i started getting more and more nervous but also excited. i could feel the endorphins kicking in. as i began my run i noticed how i was starting to feel more and more at ease, able to enjoy the conversation with my friend, and actually able to enjoy the course scenery. i was feeling good for the first two miles but after the second mile marker i began to get tired. my legs felt heavy and my it was becoming harder and harder to breathe. i thought about walking and even told my friend that i was ready to walk, but she urged me to keep going. she told me i had it in me to keep going. so i continued to put one foot in front of the other, reminding myself that i was in fact stronger than i thought. i continued to contemplate quitting and walking the rest of the race, but knew how great i would feel at the end when i could say i ran it all. i knew that i possessed the strength to make it, i just had to change my mentality. so i used the strangers around me as motivation to keep going. i listened to their cheers, to their encouragement, and pushed myself past my mental limits. so often, this is the case in life. i possess the capability to accomplish and achieve things, but i psych myself out mentally. and i also need encouragement and support from others to push myself and do what i think i cannot do. when i crossed that finish line i felt a surge of joy because i had actually done it - i finished running, and everything else seemed to fade out. in that moment, i stopped paying attention to the crowds and realized just how strong i really am. in life, when i exceed my own expectations in a healthy and productive way, i feel such joy. when i stop doubting and start believing, i'm able to do some pretty amazing things.
i love how symbolic a simple and fun road race can be in representing life. through all the twists and turns and unknowns ahead, i continue to put one foot in front of the other, knowing that if i just keep up the hard work i will reach the finish line.
needless to say, i had some healthy and friendly fun on this fourth of july celebrating not only my nation's independence but my independence as well.
<3