For the new year I thought it was time to slow down – to say no more often than saying yes. Lean back, instead of leaning in. What, I asked myself, is the point of wearing myself so thin? Why do I need to run yet another marathon with students when I’ve already completed eight?
Friday night, I mulled this over with Joe. Should I run tomorrow? Should I train for the marathon? WHAT do I do? He listened, asked few questions and then he just shrugged.
Undecided, I ate an apple just in case and set the alarm for 5:30 AM.
In the morning when the alarm sounded, I rolled towards my phone and googled SRLA. Images of other runners warming up in the dark filled my screen. Joe, now awake says exactly what I need to hear, “It’s game time baby.”
Then Nicole texted, followed by Shanika. Two of my favorite women. SRLA coaches are all, heroic. In that moment, the physical desire to stay warm in bed dissipated. The natural thing to do then, was to get dressed in the dark, like I’ve done hundreds of times before, and say yes.
Yes, I’ll be there!
Yes, I will.
Yes, I do.
We can have spectacular moments without effort but when we do decide to show up, we are often rewarded. Yes can be a beautiful answer.
By mile 18, tired as I was, I was so glad to be outside. Glad that I chose to support my community of student and teacher runners.
becoming tabitha 