No excuse

On Tuesday of this week I headed to the track to do my normal speed workout. When I arrived at the track I noticed there was a cross country meeting being held. I figured since I can’t run on the track (it was being used as part of the course), I might as well watch the meet and cheer some kids on. The meet had already started so I was a little confused as to who was winning the race and where the course all went. After I stood there for a while I was able to see the course was a giant loop and the kids had to run this loop a few times. I don’t know the exact number since I didn’t get to see the start. Anyway, as I see the top 2 runners coming down this hill to the track I hear a lady scream “only 300 more meters to go.” Ten feet behind the top runners was a small kid who looked to be struggling, but I thought he is in third so who cares. I came to realize this kid had just been lapped and still had to do the whole loop one more time. I kept an eye on him for as much as I could his last lap, and he struggled most of it. The more important thing though was he never stopped, he just get moving along. As he passed me I said “You got this” to the child and watched him finish the race in last place. 

I have never met this kid and have no clue what his name was, but watching him really inspired me. Imagine you are in a race and you get lapped and still have one more lap to go while others are finishing. That right there is enough to make people just want to drop out and call it quits. Throw in the fact that you are dead last and no one else is around you is a whole other reason to want to quit. Yet here is this warrior ( I am calling him a warrior, because anyone that shows his heart is a warrior in my book) tired, hurting, and just beat down pushing though until he crossed the finish line. I heard the kid talking to his dad after the meet, and he was so proud he ran the whole race without having to walk. It really showed me when you want something you don’t stop until you reach your goal. That day that kid had the goal to finish the race. It didn’t matter what place he came in, what mattered was he never gave up. He never once stopped, he just kept pushing forward. He was able to leave the meet that day without making an excuse on why he didn’t finish or having to walk.

 One of my favorite lines is “Excuses are like assholes, everyone has one and they all stink!” When something goes wrong in a race we tend to find a reason outside of ourselves to put the blame on. The weather played a factor, it was too crowded, there wasn’t enough water, excuse after excuse we give but we never say it was me. I have been guilty of this many times. I would blame anything except the real reason I failed, Me! What is that saying? The first step towards recovery is admitting you have a problem. Well I will be the first to admit I had a problem. I say had because this training cycle I finally looked at myself and said enough with the excuses. If I want something bad enough I will figure out a way to get it and I will figure out a way to get around any obstacle that stands in my way of my goal.

 Have you ever met a person who constantly is saying I want to lose weight, but does nothing about it? They will tell you every excuse in the book, they don’t have time, and it’s too hard to get into a rhythm, No!!! The simple fact is you don’t want it bad enough. If you really want to change you will find a way. I read a story today about a boxer who worked night shift then slept in his van outside the gym so he can get there as soon as they open. He did all this so he could be home in the day and take care of his daughter with spina bifida. Do you know what he does today? He is the heavy weight world champion. I know I have said this before on here and I am saying it again. We have to all start being accountable for ourselves if we want to succeed.