It's a marathon, not a sprint

Throughout my life, I have dabbled with running. When I was in middle and high school, I had to run for the sports I played (mainly field hockey and softball) and sometimes I’d run “for fun”. When my knee would allow (I’ve had 5 surgeries on my left knee), I’d run in college and continued with it after college. I sort of took up running more after my aunt passed away in 2011. That’s a story for another day. I didn’t really understand the runner’s high that true runner’s speak of, but I did know it was good for my body.

Anyway, if you’ve ever run a race (I’ve done several 5k races) there’s a certain flow to it. For me, I would start off strong with a good solid pace while enjoying the energy of the race and the others around me. Then, I would get in to a stride and settle in to my normal pace. Each water station would give me a sense of peace and a burst of energy to keep going. Finally, as I get closer and closer to the finish line, I would explode with energy and speed along with a “let’s get this over with” attitude.

While listening to Brené Brown’s podcast, “Unlocking Us”, she talks about this time during COVID-19 as a marathon and not a sprint. This made me consider how we’ve paced ourselves so far. She’s right you know. The podcast I was listening to was dated March 27th which was pretty early on in all of this now looking back.

In January, when we first heard about COVID-19 appearing in China and spreading across other parts of the world, it is kind of like the marketing for the first race of the season was beginning. We all took notice - deciding what to do and when to do it. Just as I would do when I saw the first local 5k race advertised. For me, it was usually the Run for Hospice of St. Mary’s. I would decide if the date worked for my schedule, taking into account sports schedules for the kids and if my knee was up for the race. February came around and the virus crept closer and closer. Similar to when I would start running a few times per week, preparing for the upcoming race day. Gaining stamina and endurance since I usually hadn’t run much over the winter.

Then came March. Oh and did it come. I’d equate it to the nerves the night before the race. I remember them all too well. We all knew it was coming. Schools closed. Toilet paper flew off the shelves. Masks were made. And, so, the race began. We all seemed to fall in to a good pace. Enjoying the energy of time off of work (or teleworking for most) and school. The mini vacation it seemed we were given. Spirits were pretty good and a “we’ve got this attitude” was felt. We hit our first water station and were ready for the turn of the corner on the course.

They say March comes in like a lion and out like a lamb. Well, not this year. March came in like a lion….and out like a herd of hungry lions trying to feed their young.

April. Oh, April. April showers bring May flowers, right? Not this year. April brought chaos and lots of it. No toilet paper. No cleaning supplies. More closures. No spending time with friends. Easter egg hunts without the hunters. Like when you’re running the race and the person standing at the water station gives you the sad look…. because they’ve run out of water! You have to keep running though. We have to keep running.

May flowers. We’ve all been waiting for the May flowers.

The longest race I have ever run was the Army 10 miler. In 2003, my dad who at the time was 54 years old and a 1st Sargent in the National Guard, decided he was going to run the Army 10 miler. He wasn’t a runner either. So I decided to run it with him. His goal was to cross the finish line, and to not get picked up by the recovery bus. We finished the race stride for stride and he beat my time by .10 of a second. But we finished. Every time I turned a corner on the DC streets, I’d look for a mile marker. I waited to see each mile marker as the distance ticked away. Waiting for the May flowers to come.

As I write this, next week is June. Will June bring the flowers? Maybe. The race continues. It feels a little like we are picking up speed. Maybe turning the corner and seeing the final mile marker? We’re in Phase 1 of the reopening plan. Restaurants can start outdoor seating tomorrow. And best of all, I think my kids might actually get a lacrosse stick back in their hands! But, the race continues.

Here’s where the marathon mindset comes in. With a sprint, we give it our all and it’s over. With a marathon, we’re in it for the long haul. We have to settle in. Wait for each mile to pass.  Grab a cup of water and keep on going.

With clients I often say that life is a journey, not a to do list. We can check tasks off of a list but we keep living. The journey continues.

I’ll leave you with this - settle in for the journey that this life brings! The ups and downs. The hills and the straightaways. Enjoy the water when you pass the water station. Share a smile with a runner nearby. But, keep going. You’ve got this.

I know I said why I ran would come later. But, as I end, there’s this. My aunt passed away in 2011…and she never ever gave up. As I cross the finish line of a race, I push myself and say in my head that she never gave up and neither will I. Just as in a race, where people, sometimes strangers and sometimes close friends (Courtney T., Courtney S. and Kelly) are watching and cheering you on, there’s people watching now.

Run this race with grace. Never give up. The journey continues.