"Its so easy to hit a wall in a run. Whether your at mile 2 or a 5k or mile 20 in a marathon."I read this quote from a motivational article in Women's Running Magazine. It inspired me to write about the next life lesson running has taught me. Its remembering why. Our why can get so lost in PR's and competing, and comparisons. In my Christian walk I have to remember who I serve and what pleases Him. He cares nothing for vanity but about your heart condition.
Every year around the middle of October, I am reminded of one reason why I restarted my health and running journey. I walk the light the night walk for Leukemia and Lymphomia. 3 years ago in August my mother called me, on the way to my new job and told me she had Leukemia. My heart dropped and my world was rocked. Context to all of this my sister was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis almost a year prior to this.
These diagnoses pushed me to take a hard look at my life and re-examine everything I consumed physically and mentally. Seeing the people closest to me suffer from sickness made me choose health on purpose. It became a way for me to support and motivate them to keep fighting.It is that moment, that memory in my mind I that revisit to put the disappointments into perspective. I have been given the ability have full use of my legs, lungs, and back. So how silly is it that I let the number on the clock, give me a mental block.
These diagnoses pushed me to take a hard look at my life and re-examine everything I consumed physically and mentally. Seeing the people closest to me suffer from sickness made me choose health on purpose. It became a way for me to support and motivate them to keep fighting.It is that moment, that memory in my mind I that revisit to put the disappointments into perspective. I have been given the ability have full use of my legs, lungs, and back. So how silly is it that I let the number on the clock, give me a mental block.
When I hit a wall in the middle of race, at the Women's Only it was at mile 2.9 at the Wounded Warrior half it was mile 11.5 I think of my mother and sister's faces. When I begin to criticize my running time, become critical of my strength, agility, or start losing my zeal for it all I go back to why. Running, although beneficial for me, is bigger than me. Its for my sister Yalonda, for my survivor mother, Carlottie, it for those who want to use their legs to walk but can't.
I must remember that it was a desire God put in my heart to encourage, inspire, and motivate others to be good stewards over the bodies God has given them. So as you continue to pursue running and health let get back to basic. Lets continue to remember our why.
I must remember that it was a desire God put in my heart to encourage, inspire, and motivate others to be good stewards over the bodies God has given them. So as you continue to pursue running and health let get back to basic. Lets continue to remember our why.
 |
| (Left to Right) My Aunts Ngozi and Brenda, myself, and my( "why") mother at the 2012 Raleigh Light the Night walk. |
 |
| My sister, my reason why, and me (2012) . |
No comments:
Post a Comment