per·se·ver·ance
noun \ˌpər-sə-ˈvir-ən(t)s\
: the quality that allows someone to continue trying to do something even though it is difficult
Five years ago if you had asked me to run, I would have laughed at you. I was one of those people who would drive by folks running in the rain and cold and ask myself ‘why would they do that?’ And then I tried it.
In the dark of night, I pulled on my sneakers that I’d had for months and attempted to run around the block. After about 30 seconds, I stopped and I stood there…I stood on the side of the road, barely breathing, and I started to cry. How could something so elementary (I mean kids ran all the time), be so freakin’ difficult?
Ever so slowly, with my shoulders drooping forward and tears streaming down my face, I walked home. I opened the door, walked up the steps and slumped on the sofa. Was I going to admit defeat so easily? Was I going to let this failed attempt define who I was?
No. I did what any young child can do these days, and I googled ‘Learn to Run’. 944,000,000 results popped up in 0.30 seconds! I guess it was a popular topic. I searched through the top 5 and came upon a Couch to 5k program that I thought was doable. I started slow and built up my mileage. Before I knew it, I was running 2.5 kilometers without stopping and I felt amazing. Would I ever run 10k? I doubt it but I was loving the fact that I could run without dying only weeks after that first run by the dark of night.
And then an amazing thing happened…I caught the running bug.
You hear people talking about it, this ‘high’ that comes with running. I never would have believed it, if I hadn’t experienced it for myself. With each run, I pushed myself harder. I ran further, I ran faster, and it got easier. I read magazines, followed friends, invested in a garmin, and got fitted properly for running shoes. Before I knew it, I was training for my first 10 kilometer race where I would be running for at least one hour consecutively.
Was I nervous? Heck yes! Would it be difficult? Heck yes again! But that didn’t mean I wasn’t going to persevere and cross that finish line. And finish I did!
Over the last five years, running has shown me that I am capable of doing more than I think I am. I am capable of pushing myself and learning to overcome difficult situations. Whether that be a running injury or a not so great race, I overcame it. And so can you!!!
For every difficult situation, break it down into manageable pieces and concur those one at a time…one step at a time! Believe in yourself and believe in your abilities because you have it in you. I like to remember a quote that I read one time and that is “With practice and patience (and I’d like to add perseverance), anything is possible!!!”
Courteney Osborne is a personaal trainer at 360fit, in Dartmouth and an accountant. She lives Halifax, Nova Scotia.