I slipped my shoes on and opened the front door. My mom looked at me with a confused look on her face. “Where are you going?” she asked. “Oh, I’m going for a run,” I replied casually. “But…” As I opened the door, I realized why my mom was concerned. It was raining. Why would I go for a run in the rain? What if I slipped or got a cold?
Regardless, I wanted to run, so I decided to give it a try. I found a street near my house and started running. Normally, if I run at all, I only run about three blocks in one direction, and then I stop. So I only planned on running a few blocks.
However, for some reason, I had a desire to keep going. The rain was refreshing to my skin. I wasn’t that tired. I didn’t stop. I focused on my breathing and kept going.
I ran all the way to the end of the road. I thought I was done, but I felt the desire again. Keep going. Running reminded me of the mile run that I had to complete when I was in middle and high school. I could never completely run a mile, let alone in the thirteen minutes in which we were required to complete it. With the new endurance and strength I felt, I wondered why it was so difficult for me to run when I was younger. At that moment, I had no problem running for a long period of time.
I turned the corner and ran to the end. Keep going. I ran for one more block. Keep going. One more block. Keep going. One more block. I could feel my legs getting tired. Keep going. I could see my street in front of me. As I gasped for air, I set a new goal for myself: run to the street and stop. The wind and the rain kept me cool as I pressed on toward my destination. With the last ounce of energy I had, I pushed to the end.
My heart pounded, my legs shook, and my head spun, but I had done it! I walked home, catching my breath, thankful for the strength that had gotten me all the way around my neighborhood. When I arrived home, I checked the map on my phone to see how far I had gone. Normally, when I went for a run around the neighborhood, I had thought I could only run 1,540 feet (three blocks). However, that day I ran 1.46 miles, plus the distance I walked back to my house!
So, what did I learn? My biggest enemy is me. I put limits on myself that distract me from my true potential. When I had stopped listening to the voice that told me to give up, I realized that I am capable of much more than I had ever thought.
And…I learned this in the rain, when the sun was hidden, when most people would choose to stay inside.
Elisabeth Warner 