Time to shine

I can’t believe it. We’re just a couple of days away from heading down the road to one of our most ambitious running goals ever. Actually, I could remove the word “running” from that last sentence. In a matter of hours, I and 19 of my closest running buddies will be training for a 26.2 mile jaunt through the colourful streets of Toronto, Ontario. Yup, for all of us, it will be our first ever marathon. A most memorable experience for sure. Yeah, we’re a little nuts.

I’ve tried, over the past several months, to point out to my team mates just what we’ve signed-up for. As I sit here just a few days away from training, I’m not so sure even I know what I’ve signed-up for. The marathon does that to you, or so I’ve read. I make no claims about my marathon experience only to say, I have none.

But what I lack in marathon experience, I make up for in enthusiasm and desire as do many of our Club members. I want this so badly, I can taste it, not just for me, but for the dozen-or-so other souls in our group that have made a commitment to sacrifice so much to get to that starting line in Toronto. We’re about to find out what we’re made of, what drives us, and I know we’ll be flabbergasted by the lessons we learn about ourselves along the way.

And understand, once we cross that line in downtown Toronto on that Sunday afternoon in late September, and take a few weeks, perhaps months to get over it and give the incredible, super-human accomplishment time to sink in, I know our lives will be forever changed; food will taste better, the sun will shine brighter, night-time skies will twinkle just that much more. And later on, when another challenge comes your way and you don’t think you can see your way through it, you’ll remember every foot-strike from March to September that led to the greatest accomplishment of your lives and you’ll know, there is nothing in life that you cannot overcome -- like a Temptations melody, Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.

I read a neat passage recently, written by John H. Sklare, Ed.D, and this seems like a great place to share it:

"I know there are a zillion reasons why today isn’t the best day to begin your new life, but I also know one important reason why it can’t wait. Time simply passes too quickly in our life, so if I may sound the silent alarm today, time is of the essence. No matter what your life circumstances, I suggest you make today the day you begin to shine. By that I mean you should start making the most of your life and press the envelope a bit. Trespass beyond the boundaries of your comfort zone, and just watch what happens. You are stronger than you know, more capable than you can imagine and only beginning to realize your potential. The clock of life is always running, so I suggest you stop wasting time. Which begs the question, what time is it? Well, it’s time to shine!"

Go for it gang. My only advice is don’t look ahead to the finish line. It’s far, far away. Break it down, one foot-strike at a time, just like every finish line you’ve crossed before it.

Let’s have some fun.

Run for your life.