Going the Distance

There are few feelings more powerful than standing in the corral just before the start of a long race and knowing our place there is earned. The long hours, endless miles, the sweat and discomfort, all dues paid in full. The miles ahead may seem impossibly long but we will accept only one result, going the distance. No feeling is more powerful is crossing the finish line. Some cross in tears, others with scream of victory, regardless it’s a moment to remember always.

The sprinter and the middle distance athlete face a different but also similar choice. The decision not just to go the distance but to challenge the edge, to skate a wickedly fine line between high performance and injury. The finish line for both is just as sweet especially when they cross with nothing left but the love. Riding that wave of emotion that comes from giving full measure.

Whether it’s challenging the 100m, facing down an ultra or any distance in between, the athlete soon learns it’s the effort rather than the glory that is the reward. Testing personal limits, reaching them, then breaking through are how we discover who we are. Athletes are no better than others, just more at peace.

It’s not just a step, it’s a start.

Dave