The Olympics is always such a special time as we watch athletes compete and stretch themselves to their highest potential. This year I became what I call an adult onset athlete and completed my first 1/2 marathon. Not only did I discover a new found passion for running, I learned about the value of running your own race.

“Learning is Experiential”

Learning is experiential, meaning I wasn’t able to read or study my way into these lessons, I paid the price to learn them with my most precious currency – TIME! It is my hope that as you make the investment of your time in your dream that you will use these strategies to prepare you to begin the journey, encourage you during the run, and give you the courage to finish strong.

“Show Up!”

One the day of the marathon, I reported to the race staging area at 5:30 am “ready” to run with everything from my brand new visor, performance t-shirt, compression running pants, and reflexive waistband to hold my ID and “goo.” There were runners there from all over the world, and there was excitement generated from the crowd as we pressed our way forward to the starting line.  And there they were… The “elite” runners that look like they stepped off of the cover of the latest health and fitness magazine (I suck my teeth).  But, to my surprise there were more “regular folk!”  Yes, the “regular” people that looked like my family, neighbors, and colleagues.  The athletes were all ages, races, genders, and fitness levels. Everyone was there!  Corporate partners, fathers and sons, girlfriend walking groups, blind athletes, and those with prosthetic limbs.  Each person was bound by the decision that they made to “show up!”