You remember that I said I ran a marathon after going through cancer treatment? I had always wanted to do so but had not pursued it because I am “not athletic.” Well, after going through treatment 8 years ago I decided to pursue it, even if I failed. To fail in pursuit of a dream was o.k. with me. To fail to pursue it, however, was not.
I realized during training there were so many life lessons I pondered during those long training runs. Many of them apply to living in a family with a hidden disability. Check this out and see which ones ring true for your journey.
Life lessons from marathon training:
- The first mile is always bad
- The 3rd quarter is the hardest
- You have to run at your own pace even if it means running alone
- Sometimes you need to slow down to encourage someone. Do it
- Sometimes someone will slow down to encourage you. Let them
- Two lessons about the sun:
- It is bright. Wear sunglasses
- Sometimes it is so bright that even sunglasses won’t help
- Shade and a breeze are gifts from God. Thank Him
- Eat before you run; eat while you run; eat after you run
- Drink before you are thirsty
- Sometimes there is a mess in the path. Don’t stop. Go around it
- Two lessons about pain:
- Sometimes you can run through the pain
- Sometimes the pain means you need to take a break
- Ask for help when you are injured and do what you are told
- Listen to those with more experience than you
- There are always people who are faster and people who are slower. Accept it
- Rest after a long run
- The short runs help prepare you for the long runs. Do them
- A spouse to massage your feet after a long run is a gift from God. Be grateful and say so
- If it were easy everyone would do it
- Dress appropriately
- If there is a pebble in your shoe, stop and remove it
- Training is a celebration of life and health
- Sometimes you feel like you can’t finish
- The only thing that assures that you won’t finish is if you quit
- Don’t quit
- When you are tired you are more prone to make mistakes or have errors in judgment. Be careful
- Sometimes you just have to walk
- Don’t let fear of failure keep you from pursuing your dreams
- On the straights (easy places) lengthen your stride. On the hills (hard places) shorten your stride
- Not all of life is the thrill of the race. Sometimes you just have to put in the training miles
- No need for ice in your water bottle during winter training. It freezes your bum. (This translates to: be prepared for the different seasons of life)
- Sometimes pigs can fly
Which of these lessons rings true for you in your marathon parenting journey? What additions would you make?
Running the race with you,
Shannon
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Shannon Royce
President & CEO at ChosenFamilies.org
Shannon Royce is president & C.E.O. of ChosenFamilies.org, a ministry for families living with hidden disabilities. She is Mom of two and wife of one. She is a public policy advocate, lymphoma survivor and slow and steady runner.
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