A Race…To the Finish Line
In the spring of 2023, I decided to sign up for a series of run/walk events. My husband Dave had done a handful of runs prior to COVID and I thought it would be fun to try it. I wanted to get more exercise and, to be honest, I was motivated because all the participants received a Finisher’s Medal – so long as they crossed the finish line.
My first event was in June which was followed by three more events all of which were at the walk at a 5 km distance. My time improved with each event and my collection of medals started to grow.
A turning point came during my fifth event, the Queen City Marathon in September. I started the event walking, but halfway through the course, Gainer the Gopher (the mascot for the Saskatchewan Roughriders football team), tried to pass me. I took one look at him and thought, “Oh, no, no no. This is not happening. I am not getting passed by a gopher!” With Gainer’s encouragement, I started running and, as shown in the photo above, I ran to the finish line with Dave standing nearby shouting, “You don’t run!” Well, I did and I received my fifth Finisher’s Medal!
Two more events followed and, again, I continued to improve and I ended the season with my personal best time. I discovered I didn’t need to compete against anyone else, only myself, to improve.
By the end of the season, I was hooked, signed up for a fun 3 km Halloween walk (I even bought a costume), entered the “Ho Ho Holiday 5km” virtual walk/run that came complete with a Santa suit and even joined a “Conquer 2023” virtual event. My something new, grew! The funny part about all of this? I hate running – but I love racing!
In life, as in sports, we can definitely compete for a placing, but, sometimes, there is value in simply setting a goal and finishing the race. Depending on the circumstances, simply finishing can be an accomplishment and warrants a celebration. By all means, celebrate your finishes!
When you are “out on course,” it’s helpful to know that we don’t really need to compete against others. To become better “out there,” all we need to do is to set goals, compete against ourselves, and work towards improving. As we do that, we will continue on the road towards our own personal best, becoming the person we envision ourselves to be.
What one new thing (ie. goal) do you want to try in 2025?
Do you see the value in reaching the finish line?
How can you work towards your own personal best?
Recommended Resources
- Article by Crystal – “11 Inspiring Quotes That’ll Get You to the…Finish Line” - https://inspiration.allwomenstalk.com/inspiring-quotes-thatll-get-you-to-the-finish-line/
Monthly Challenge
- Set one new goal for 2025 (one that you can work on throughout the year), track your progress and milestones and see if you can reach your personal best within the year.