Not to the swift, but the Wise

The race is not to the swift or the strong, or even the brave or the well-trained.  The race is to those who keep going.  Who take in the fuel that’s necessary, who keep their eyes on the prize, who keep going, slow down or rest when necessary.  But who get back up and KEEP GOING.  

I remember running the last leg of the Ironman in 2012 in Lake Placid. It was unusually hot.  So hot, that I wanted to pick up the empty Lay’s potato chip bag that someone had left on the ground in transition.  

I had just come off a grueling 89 degree 112 mile bike ride with several thousand feet of climbing that took me over eight hours.  I thought I might just break down. Not because I wanted to, no, but because I could feel my body riding on the edge of a wave of depletion and exhaustion. And yet I had some choices to make, because another grueling leg laid ahead of me- the marathon. A really hot marathon.  

Which is why I wanted to lick that bag of lays potato chips.  My body needed salt and I knew it. I knew that I needed to find it some.  I went out in hopes that chicken broth would soon be coming.  (They start serving it later in the day, for this very reason.). I asked a 

volunteer on my way out and they shouted after me, “mile 3!”  

I told myself, “Three miles.  You can do this. Be smart.  Go easy.”    It’s mostly downhill to get to that point near the horseshoe and airstrip in Placid.  As I approached that area after almost three miles, I was still talking to myself.  (You have to in times like that.  And what you say is SO very important.) 

Around that time, I saw a girl about my age being carried off the course in a full stretcher.  Wrapped up in the kind of post marathon wraps they often hand out, with an oxygen bag over her face. 

Now not to sound too dramatic, but this was not the first stretcher I had seen that day.  The DNF (did not finish) rate, I’d find out later, was one of the highest ever on that course. It came as no surprise.  It was HOT. And that course is Grueling on a good day.  

Around mile 100 on the bike there had been a super chatty guy that kept rolling up next to me.  Which is not unusual, as It was the rolling hill section near Wilmington, and the Ausable River .  What was unusual was the amount of energetic talking that he was doing.  I mean I might be chatty too, but not at this point of a  race.  Not when so much energy is required.  Not when so much is at stake.  

I remember wondering what was up with this guy.   Unfortunately at the next med tent I saw him off to the side, receiving medical attention.  Apparently, his extreme chattiness was part of some almost hallucinating effect. He was loosing it and couldn’t quite get his energy directed where it needed to go.  He must have missed some window of rest or fuel, and now he was unfortunately paying the price. It’s a hard thing to see.  I hope he got another shot on a different day.  If he wanted to I’m sure he did.  

So here I was, just about a half an hour into the marathon in almost 90 degree heart, after almost ten hours of work underneath me already, when I saw this girl on a stretcher.  Who was arguable fitter, and clearly faster than me, being carried off the course.  It was a reminder, and not a subtle one, to go carefully.  

I told myself as much.  Don’t let that be how you leave the course today. 

Do not go too fast. 

Do not forget to fuel properly.  

Do not be afraid to slow down. 

Yes, you’ve gotta give it everything you’ve got.  But not so much so that to the point of dire exhaustion, you can’t finish.  That happens sometimes.  

But the point here is to finish something. It’s not guaranteed, but it sure is desired.  And in every way that you can ensure it, you want to be sure to do your best part. 

Yes you’d also like to get there as fast as you *can*.  But all the theories about how FAST you can go are out the window when your rubber-soled foot hits the hot black pavement.  

Even if it’s pavement that you’ve been dreaming of pounding.  You must now not let it pound you.  

I’m so happy to say that two loops of grueling hills, and five or so hours later, I was able to cross that finish line.  It helps me with things I am working on now.  I can remember, what it was like. 

It was mile by mile, step by step to get there.  Some were walking breaks, some crazy wild snacks, some chatting with friends as we walked in step for a while (but not so much that I lost focus) and a lots and lots of self talk (“come on coco.  You can do this.”) and I got there.    

I’m sure I prayed out there.  But I know for sure that I talked to myself a lot too.  We all do, all day long. 

What we say to ourselves is so important.  On a normal day, on a big day.  

How we allow ourselves to remember things, it steers the ship.  If we can remind and remember ourselves. what we’re capable of, it  is invaluable.  

Uncompromising, and powerful.  

Knowing you’re on a path to something that you’re meant to do. Knowing that though it might be hard, you can and will have what it takes to get there.   

You can rest from certain actions, back off the speed, or fuel differently when you need to. But also, keeping your eye on the prize, your ear tuned to the finish line, and keep going.  

I remember at around mile 20 on the out and back loop, still a long way off, I could hear the voice of the announcer, Mike Reilly, at the finish line.  He was energetic, excitedly calling each persons name.  Even though I was exhausted, I knew I needed to get there, I knew that I could get there.   Even though it was going to be almost all uphill, there was a prize waiting there.  And it wasn’t some medal, snd it wasn’t a tshirt. And it wasn’t even hearing him say my name.  It would be crossing that finish line myself, knowing that I had done it.   At the moment, I knew that I had  what it takes to get there.  

I had made smart decisions, I had trained well (enough), I had not quit when it got hard. I had backed off the pace when I needed to.  And I would get there.  I would get there because I started, AND, because I kept going. 

What are you working for today? 

What finish line do you have in mind? 

Keep going.   You’ll get there.  

And please remember to be kind to yourself all along the way.  Demand something out of yourself, be tough and courageous, be strong, because it’ll be tough.  

But also be kind.  Take CARE, to take care of your whole mind, body and soul.  So you CAN,  get there.