I just had to pick the loudest, most squeakiest treadmills in the gym but I needed to get part of my run in. The humidity outside feels heavy and draining, and it’s tough to breath as deeply as I’d like. I needed some relief from it.
I don’t “dread” the treadmill as much as some people do. I find it suits it’s purpose well by allowing me to run and not be engulfed in high humidity and hot temps. It takes me out of a miserable atmosphere and puts me in a less miserable place so I can do what I enjoy doing, and what I need to do in order to continue training for Javelina and all these other races I have lined up.
Emotionally it’s been a tough week for me, but I can say, each day is a healing process and the days are getting better.
Being able to run has certainly helped and I’m already lining up a nice holiday weekend of training. I’m still working on getting my knee 100% but it’s close and I’m continuing to ice, foam roll and strengthen my legs.
Part of today’s 5.3 miles found me running into Rocky. I was quickly reminded of the inspiring speech in Rocky Balboa, which is one of my favorite movies! I’ve loved all of them, with Rocky IV being my most favorite, followed by I, II, III, Creed, and lastly, the one I wouldn’t mind completely knocking out, V. Alright, I guess I didn’t really love all of them.
“The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It’s a very mean and nasty place and I don’t care how tough you are, it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain’t about how hard you hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done! Now if you know what you’re worth then go out and get what you’re worth. But you got to be willing to take the hits, and not pointing fingers saying you ain’t where you wanna be because of him, or her, or anybody! Cowards do that and that ain’t you! You’re better than that!” – Rocky Balboa to his son
Wow.
Life has been trying to knock me down this year, but you know what? I’m going to keep moving forward. That’s what each of us has to do whenever we feel like the odds are stacked against us and we’re fighting through what life throws at us.
Wednesday evening I saw one of Keira Henninger’s Instagram photos and loved the meaning behind it. We aren’t given a good life or a bad life. We’re simply given a life. It’s entirely up to you what you make of it.
Make those goals. Work through those fears. Be willing to take those hits. Most importantly, know you’re worth it and believe in yourself.
Yes, life has it’s challenges. Life can hit us hard. Life wants to knock us out. If that’s what we make of it. But no matter what, keep moving forward.
Thank you for reading.