So I’m going to run an Ironman. I don’t want to. Believe me, there are not many things that sound more awful to me than a 14 hour day of exercise.  No, scratch that: If I train consistently, work hard, and rock it on race day, then it will be a 14 hour day of exercise.  I will be VERY happy with a 14 hour day of exercise.  But I have to run an Ironman because I said I was going to run an Ironman. If I don’t then it becomes that thing I said I was going to do that I never did, and I just can’t have that.

Do I think I can run an Ironman? No. I mean, not today. Definitely not. Today I had to literally drag myself through an hour at the gym. But I did it. And I’ll probably do it again tomorrow. And the day after that? I’ll worry about that day later… So I definitely couldn’t run an Ironman right now. But 10 months from now? Yeah, I can do that.

I read a quote the other day about exercise that said “A year from now you’ll wish you started today.” That struck me. Because that’s really what it is. It’s not swimming 2.4 miles or biking 112 miles or running 26.2 miles.  It’s making the choice every day to get the workout in, to build up day after day after day, to push myself just a little bit so I make it to the finish line. Anybody can do that. Anybody can start today on the path to accomplishing their goals and doing something they think they can’t do right now. All you need is a purpose that you believe in, that is more important to you than being lazy and sitting on the couch. And you need to start today. Because come race day, you’ll really wish you had.

I made a new friend a few months ago whose son is sick.  Every few months he has to go get chemo.  Every week or so he’s at the doctor because something strange and unexpected is wrong with him.  She’s never said – and I’ve never asked – but I’m pretty sure at some point too soon he’s going to die. And I can’t help her with that. I can’t make him better. Heck, I can’t even think of anything meaningful or useful to say to her about it. I lent her my car the other week when her sister came to town so they could all ride to the hospital together to figure out why her son’s kidneys weren’t working. And I’m going to babysit this week so she can train up her replacement for the job she has to quit because it’s taking too much time away from what time he has left. And that’s pretty much all I can do for her.

Oh, and run an Ironman. I can do that. Compared to what she’s doing, that actually sounds pretty easy. And since I started today, it will be even easier tomorrow.

 Courtney Waid is a member of Team Endure to Cure and the recipient of the 2011 Team Endure to Cure Member of the Year Award.  You can check out what she is doing and why by clicking here.  If you are interested in joining our team doing any event you wish to raise funds and awareness for our cause, please contact us and become somebody’s hero today!