I ran track in college. I had a pre-meet warmup routine. I know what it feels like to be in the heat of a workout that challenges you in every facet.
Why do we push ourselves further than we ever thought possible?
You can feel it, your workout is getting tougher. You are almost fully warmed up. Your muscles feel like they’re on top of your bones, an almost ‘floating’ sensation. Its time to run.
There is this tipping point between where you expected yourself to slow down, and what actually happens when you feel your higher power elevating you. Your muscles ache, breathing becomes more difficult, your abdomen tightens.
Your first misstep.
You feel it, but you don’t want the rest of your body to know. What do you do? How do you correct it?
You put it out of your mind, that never happened. Your back straightens. You pick your knees up and remember to use your arms. You start running on your toes again. Your one-time misstep turns into your drive phase. You overcome. You’re back on track.
Until another tipping point. Reality has set in once again, but the race isn’t yet finished. How do you respond?
Muscles floating.
You have a choice. Keep pushing or back down.
Now I would like to say I keep pushing every time, but that would be a lie. I can feel it though, which is a start.
The drive is coming back. I’m feeling hungry.
One step, two step, three step, four. How am I still going? Where am I? Who am I?
In this moment of exasperation you understand the answers to these questions all too well. Your purpose is clear.
The finish line is just in sight, but does where you finish really matter?
No. Not in the slightest. You were pushing simply because you could. Because you knew.
Because Grace.
