Do you have what it takes to be dedicated and do what it takes to reach your goal?
I do!
Let me share with you my example of my dedication. Yesterday was a rainy, gloomy day. My husband and the three boys were bouncing off the walls. It had been raining off and on all day. I had been putting off my run all day – waiting for just the right moment to run. My husband finally encouraged this cranky needing to run me to go for a run.
Source: Uploaded by user via Vanessa on Pinterest
You see, I do not own a treadmill. I want a treadmill… and would LOVE one. But for now, when I need to get my sweat on I run outside. I rely on my trusty double jogger (when I take my children with me) or my husband to watch the boys so I can go on a solo run. Today was a MUCH NEEDED #mefirst solo run day! This mama needed to run.
As I prepare for my run… I come across a few road blocks:
- My iPod & nike+ were not charged. I had no tunes to run to, nor an accurate way to measure my speed/distance.
- My favorite sports bra was dirty.
- It started raining again.
I decide I am dedicated and go for a run… without my iPod, double bagged the girls, in the sprinkling rain.
I am dedicated. I go!
As I head out the door, I see the skies begin to break open… bits of sunshine and rain pour from the sky. I think to myself, “This isn’t so bad. I can handle running in this sprinkle.”
Not long after I had that thought, the dark clouds close in and the rain pours from the sky. I am soaked. My shoes are squishy. I am only a half mile from home. I determine to keep moving forward with my run.
I am dedicated.
As with most storms, the wind began to gust. Nothing like running in the rain when you are soaked AGAINST a cold mountain wind. Lovely, right!? I keep pushing forward… enjoying the fresh air, cool rain, and wind.
I am dedicated. I am determined. I am focused.
Two miles into my run, I am heading home. I notice that the rain is getting heavier. The downpour is like a shower… crazy amounts of water begin to fall from the sky. I literally begin to laugh out loud!! While I am laughing and running… I notice the rain is hitting harder. It is hailing! The hail is small… about pea sized hail.
I am running in a freak hail storm!
I keep running.
The thunder is deafening. The lightening flashes overhead in the ominous dark clouds. The rain is pouring down. The hail pelts as I continue to run.
I keep running. I am dedicated.
Two cars pull over to ask if I need a ride home. When I tell them I am okay and don’t need a ride, they shrug me off and drive away. They probably think, “This crazy woman… running in this weather!”
I begin to chant… I am dedicated. I finish what I start!
Instead of looking down at the road, I choose to look up at my surroundings. Just as I am approaching the last block to my street, I look up to the sky – a rainbow!
It was almost like God was smiling down on me saying, “I am proud of you! I will keep my promise to you, because of your dedication!”
I am overjoyed at my dedication… and the craziness of my run. I am a wet mess when I open the door. My boys were full of questions about Mommy running in the hail, thunder, and rain. My husband was glad to see me and shared that he was tempted to load everyone in the car to come find me.
The crazy thing about this whole adventure!?!
Not 5 minutes after I get home… it stops raining!!
The skies open up… the sun shines… and it has NOT rained since that freak storm – while I was running – when I was talking myself into being dedicated again… to hop back on the fitness wagon.
It’s not whether you get knocked down. It’s whether you get up again.” ~Vince Lombardi
I am dedicated. Are you?
A (wo)man can be as great as (s)he wants to be. If you believe in yourself and have the courage, the determination, the dedication, the competitive drive and if you are willing to sacrifice the little things in life and pay the price for the things that are worthwhile, it can be done.” ~Vince Lombardi
As always your posts are timely for me.
Your words made me with there was someone running along you to photograph it, sounds powerful!
WTG! So inspiring. This was a wonderful reminder of what it takes to succeed.
Thank you, Stacie! Yes… success is a total mind game. We have to BELIEVE it to ACHIEVE it! 🙂
It’s like 80% mental. Most of the battle for me is getting my ass out the door. Thanks, Rachel
love it !!!
thanks so much for this….I needed to hear this about so many different parts of my life…running only being one of the areas that I want to quit!
thanks…
now I will forget that my favorite sports bra is also dirty, wear the one that works but doesn’t make them look as nice and go hit the pavement!
Woot! Way to go! Proud of you! Enjoy this sunny cool morning while it lasts. I think the 10 day forcast says that we are supposed to have rain all week. Bummer. But we are DEDICATED women, right? You can do it! Enjoy your run.
What a great lesson. I love it when I can learn through others trials!
That is too funny! I had to run without my iPod today, but it was sunny. 😛
A rainbow!!??? that’s like a movie or something! I am dedicated and in part it’s because you are! I felt great today, didn’t want to go for a run and did it anyway because I know I need to train to be able to run a 5K again. One foot in front of the other. I love the image of you running in hail and people thinking you needed help. Nice of them too, though you don’t need no stinkin’ ride!
Good for you, warrior woman!