I didn’t grow up with my father, but one memory that sticks out in my head is him teaching me how to play basketball. I must have been around 8 or 9 We ran around to different points on the court and he’d pass me the ball so I can shoot and attempt to score. Although I don’t remember much about that time I do remember it was a normal thing for him to go out and play basketball with the guys. Every time I missed a shot I remember him telling me I shouldn’t give up, every time I missed a shot. While basketball never developed into a sport I was any good at, I do go back to it from time to time staying until I make all the shot I set for that day.
I often think ahead to the memories that my children will have of their time spent with me. Will they remember the time they spent running with me fondly? Will they look at the challenges that they face when trying to accomplish a goal as just a barrier to overcome? Only time will tell. All that I can do is be the be the example and show the behaviors that I want to develop.
I have gone back and forth trying to decide if I want to write about my experiences while running. Now that I’ve I finally decided to do it, I am at my lowest point of my running journey. A few months ago, I started feeling was in pain in my leg, and not running as much. But, I actually think this was a good place to start as, it captures my journey as I am going through a barrier that I must overcome to meet my goals.
Sometimes pain is your body’s way of telling you to stop what you are doing. It is a warning sign letting you know that something is not right. But in my case, the doctors are playing 20 questions and have come up with no diagnosis. So, why can I not do the same and try to figure it out on my own?
For me, this journey is not about getting fit. I never really had a problem there. It is about personal achievement! It’s about setting a goal and achieving that goal. It’s about overcoming obstacles that get in the way of success. It’s about realizing that sometimes, you have to take a step back in order to move forward. It’s about knowing that taking that backwards step is ok. It is ok to fall! But what you do after you do fall is what defines the kind of person you are destined to be!
So running serves as a reminder to me that life is a journey. The only way you’ll get to the finish line is by putting one foot in front of the other and moving forward.
Corey Stokes 