Transform Challenges into Triumphs

Story: Half marathon

Life Principle: What you go through, you grow through

"Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved." – Helen Keller

Half Marathon

A week before my half marathon, I felt a piercing pain in my right ankle during a training run. I brushed it off and pushed to finish.

The next morning, I could barely walk due to an Achilles sprain. Three months of training runs, major gains in endurance and speed and I was injured a week out from the race. To make it worse, my family was in town for the event.

I tried rest, ice, stretching and strength exercises, but it wasn’t looking good. The day before the race, I had to make a call, was I going to run? Maybe it was the training, maybe it was sheer will, but I decided to go for it.

Race Day

The next morning, I felt a mix of excitement and nerves wondering whether I would finish. My goal shifted from completing the race in less than 2 hours to just finishing.

The first mile was down, then the second. I felt good, and settled into my pace, which was faster than required to hit my initial goal of less than 2-hours.

With the end in sight, I wondered, how fast could I finish? I started pushing harder in the last couple miles with a final time: 1 hour and 48 minutes.

Exceeding my goal while overcoming an injury was much sweeter.

Keep moving forward.

"All the adversity I've had in my life, all my troubles and obstacles, have strengthened me... You may not realize it when it happens, but a kick in the teeth may be the best thing in the world for you." – Walt Disney

Life's struggles can feel like a marathon. There will be moments of excitement or nerves, and you may question if you can reach the finish line. While the course is beyond control, you choose how you run your race.

Keep going. You've got this.

Rik Basi