Nike Wisdom

There is a reason that Nike's slogan, "Just Do It" has stood the test of time. Probably a lot of it has to do with good marketing, but, from my recent experience, it is also very true. 

I have been working and working for months and months now, thinking about and training for this marathon. I have said 'no' to cookies and brownies and red wine and french fries. I have prepared myself, thinking about it every day for the last 6 months. But, even with all of this dedication to the task at hand, I have still wondered if I could really pull this off, if I could really finish.

I guess the unknown is a little scary. Also, when you tell people you are going to do a marathon a lot of people tend to tell you horror stories they have heard about the mysterious marathon and it's treacherous distance and how their mom's friend did a marathon and horrible things happened to her. There is risk in everything and you do not know how the body will react, but you can prepare as best as possible.

I have been preparing for a while now and yesterday was the day on my training schedule where I was supposed to run "an easy 26 miler" according to Jeff Galloway, author of "Marathon, You Can Do It!". I knew I had to do it and all week long prior to the run, the task was looming before me. The more I thought about it, the more it caused me a bit of worry and fear. Mostly, I was worried I wouldn't be able to really do it and I wondered if that would that be any different in three weeks on the day of the race. 


The moment came... and I went... down the road and all over Asheville. The crazy thing was, I actually did it! I pulled it off and today (after a massage and a bath of epsom salts) I actually feel good! I am a bit tired and pretty hungry pretty often, but other than that I'm good. I also have a peace of mind. I feel like I can walk up to the start line with the knowledge learned through training that I can finish that distance. 

So, when you are thinking about not doing it and you hear the words "Just Do it" think about the fact that afterwards you can say, "I just did that!"