What are you thinking?!
Five lessons I learned during my “impossible” marathon
One year ago today, I did the craziest thing of my life.
Eight months prior to that, I laughed at my friend when she excitedly suggested that we should run a marathon together. You name the limiting belief, I had it. And I believed it – 1,000%
Maybe you’re there too.
Unfortunately, I feel like moms are especially good at feeling stuck. Not because we’re lame, but because mom life is demanding! We’re not even sleeping through the night. We don’t remember the last time we clipped our toenails. We can’t see the floor in at least one room of the house. We’re settling for dinners we know aren’t great for our family. We’re lonely because we can’t find a friend who understands our lives. We can’t think straight so it makes us crazy wives. Drinking water? Who does that!?
We literally have 1,000 reasons to NOT do things. Do you feel that way? I was right there with you.
When my friend asked about the marathon, I fired off “valid” excuses like it was my full-time job.
• I’m a farmer’s wife… do you realize how all-consuming that is?
• I had a one-year-old… do you realize how impossible running would be?
• I have two other kids who need me – always. Where are they going to go?
• My baby wasn’t sleeping through the night yet… do you realize how exhausting that is?
• I’m in charge of a milk business… do you realize how time consuming that is?
• Besides, I could never run that far. I have sports asthma.
• I’ve only felt like a fit person for two minutes of my life between baby number two and three.
• I haven’t “worked out” for two years.
• There’s no way I could even do it if I tried!
• Did I mention I am a farmer’s wife?
• Also… I’m a farmer’s wife.
Case closed. No marathon.
My friend patiently waited while I spewed my reasons for why it wouldn’t work. She kindly responded with what later turned into a haunting encouragement.
Her response? “What IF…” What IF we could figure it out? What IF there was a way that it could work. What would that look like?
I ended the conversation and called it done by telling her I would train with her but that I would NOT run the marathon with her.
She kindly agreed and said we would start with three miles later that week. I panicked. I can’t run three miles! I “just” had a baby! What was she thinking? No way was I surviving this. (Insert a another thousand limiting beliefs here.)
Guess what, though? Just like any other big, scary task, it has to begin somewhere – sometimes that begins with a phone call. Maybe it begins in your journal or on your painter’s canvas. Maybe it begins with a donation box or with calling a friend.
My “big scary” just happened to begin with a step. And then another. And then three miles of steps – all while I was watering and tending to the excuses in my head.
The funny thing is, nothing changed about my circumstances at first. I was still a farmer’s wife with a one-year-old and all the things.
However, my thinking began changing because I spent time with someone who believed in me.
Fast-forward eight months and 26.2 think-shifting miles and I’m here to help you.
I’m a firm believer in learning from the hard parts of someone else’s journey if it can make mine better. I’m sharing these with you so you can stand on my shoulders.
Check out my “recipe” for the top five things this journey taught me, and then head over to www.gerdesfreshfarm.com/blog to see the pictures and video of my experience!
Meet your farmer – Liz Gerdes. She and her husband are local dairy farmers and friends to anyone who needs one. They empower moms to confidently feed their families nutrient-dense food using farm fresh milk! Visit gerdesfreshfarm.com or follow her on Facebook @gerdesfreshfarm or Instagram @gerdesliz for more info.
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