Today is day three of being really "back" to running! It's such a treat and I feel more like myself than I have in 10 weeks. Today I actually got outside and off the treadmill which was even more exciting. While I was finishing up my run, I was thinking about my track/cross country coach in high school. He had a profound influence on my life. He is the kind of person that I hope MacKenzie finds in her life. I hope she has lots of influential people surrounding her and that she accepts the gifts they give her along the way. Not only did my track coach introduce me to my love of running, but he introduced me to the many life lessons that running can provide.
One of the most important lessons I learned: I can be as tough as nails. This has become my running mantra: "you're as tough as nails." It may sound silly. It probably is. It still helps. You might occasionally hear me muttering it during mile 23 of a marathon. I repeated this mantra to MacKenzie last week before she went into surgery. It sometimes helps to say it even if it doesn't feel like it's true.
My track coach taught me this lesson on a very cold spring day. We had a meet at another school. It was supposed to be an all day affair on a Saturday. It was cold and the weather forecast was lousy. There was likely going to be snow and potentially sleet and hail. On the bus ride to the meet, many of us laughed about the fact that the meet would likely be canceled and soon we'd be home and cozy instead of out running in the elements. We were both right & wrong. The meet was canceled due to inclement weather. However, we were wrong about being warm and cozy. As all the rest of the kids from surrounding schools were loading back on their buses and heading out, our coach herded us off the bus and onto the track for 400 repeats. It was sleeting with a mix of hail. The kids on the other buses laughed.
I remember feeling really angry in the moment. How could he do this? Wasn't this some form of abuse? Didn't he see the other kids were safe and warm on the buses headed home? We all stayed and finished our practice. Not just any practice: but 400 repeats! Not an easy day. He wasn't going to waste a day of training. Excellence doesn't happen by getting back on the bus. It happens by heading out in the hail. It makes you as tough as nails.
I hope MacKenzie has people like this in her life. People that challenge her. People that push her. People that stretch her. People that may frustrate her in order to make her stronger.
What kind of people are important to your children?
T you are so right. I had a throwing coach in high school that on many occasions make me angry when I would get frustrated. He always would say in a laid back way "thats okay get pissed, go ahead and quit! But a quitter never wins."
ReplyDeleteI want more than anything in life for Lilly to be the best at everything she does. At the same time I know that her being at her best doesn't always mean she is going to be number 1. I that is ok, as long as she gives every go in life 150%!!
Positive people in her life are important to me. People like you! I can only remember one time in four years when I asked how are you today and you said just ok. I think it was the result of a root canal, or other major tooth issue.
That was so kind Alex!! Thanks!
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