Inspired Ideas: You’re Ready Enough

A year and a half ago I signed up for a half marathon because I decided I wanted to become a runner. I’ve played tennis for most of my life, and I’ve always loved exercising. I thought the training road would be difficult, but it wasn’t anything like I expected it would be. Doesn’t that always happen?

I signed up for a 5K before I had finished all of the weeks on my Couch 2 5K app on my phone, and I pushed myself to the finish line…in the middle of the July heat. I ran a second 5K last November, but at that point things had gotten really real. My goal was never to run the entire half marathon (it still isn’t), but running 3.1 miles was a bit of a struggle.

I was frustrated that my body was not happy about my new found running hobby. I struggled with cramping, couldn’t determine a speed that I could withstand for long periods of time, and became generally frustrated that I couldn’t run with ease.

So with a frustrated heart, I deferred my race. I had a year to make something happen.

Photo by Oliver Levett via BBC News

I didn’t run as consistently in the winter. I decided it was a great idea to fall on my back and horribly injure my hand while skiing, which caused me to have to sit on the sidelines for over a month while it healed. Then I went to Making Things Happen, and I vowed to myself to cross the finish line of my half marathon. It was going to happen, and I started to build running and working out into my schedule without excuses.

In the middle of my you-can-absolutely-train-and-run-this-thing moment, I met with a trainer. I hated every second I spent with her because she informed me that I would never be strong enough if I just ran and followed the steps on my app. She told me I needed to radically change my eating habits, and then she informed me that I had weight to lose. That was my lowest point because for a few days I believed everything she said. But NONE of it was true, especially the part about losing weight. Now I was on a mission to prove her wrong and run.

I’ve become so much stronger since March, but as my marathon date has crept up on me I’ve been wondering if I’m ready to run/walk 13.1 miles. It’s a LONG time. And I’ve panicked about it. I’ve asked myself the same question over and over again: “Are you ready?” But the better question when facing a huge fear and possibly meeting a huge goal is, “Will you ever be fully READY?” We’re talking about the kind of ready where you want to shout it from the roof tops because you’re just so confident. The kind where you feel like you can just burst through the door and yell, “Let’s DO this thing!”

The answer is likely no. But I’ve realized I’m much stronger than I think I am. I’ve run miles upon miles, followed two apps, and learned that I really enjoy running. Plus, I’m on a mission to prove a trainer wrong. I’ve realized that I’m ready enough.

I’m running and walking 13.1 miles on Saturday morning starting at 8 a.m. I’m ready enough, and I’m going to play one awesome playlist and run for my Nana. I’ll be damned if I don’t cross that finish line. And then eat chocolate.

Whatever you’re facing, face it. You’re ready enough too.

Let’s do this thing.