Today’s prompt is pretty self-explanatory, “I feel best when…” and my answer is relatively simple and short.
I feel best when… I finish a race, especially a half marathon.
There is nothing like crossing that finish line and knowing you’ve completed something amazing. There is a rush of adrenaline. There are crowds cheering. You feel like you’ve truly won (even if you are 1,873 out of 3,917). But you have won. You completed something that not everyone has done. You put in the time and the training.
For me I think the feeling of accomplishment comes because there is always part of the race that feels hard. There is the physical aspect, maybe your legs are tired that day but there is also the mental aspect. If you read my blog on the 9th, Challenger, you know that I struggle with the mental aspect. I have to tell myself I can do it.
Crossing the finish line means I defeated the mental aspect of running. I may be dead tired but I feel like I can accomplish anything after a half marathon. I get a smaller version of this feeling after a tough training run. I feel like nothing can get in my way. I can achieve my dreams. I try to carry this feeling forward in my day-to-day life. I am working towards owning my own business and I try to keep moving forward and banish the deprecating self talk. I reach into those reserves from a half marathon and tell myself I can do it.
Reader: When do you feel best?