The last few weeks have reminded me of mile 12. I’m sure I’ve talked about this before, but in a half marathon, mile 12 is where I really feel the fatigue, and where I start to drag and want to stop. Despite it being so close to the end. Mile 12 is where those questions (why did I do this to myself? Whose idea was this? Why did I think this would be fun?) start to press down on my already tired body. Mile 12 is the point where I start to listen to the fatigue, because up to that point, I was listening to my body and felt like the aches were normal and bearable. Mile 12 is where I start to doubt my strength and my endurance. Mile 12 is where miles 1-11 seem a distant memory, which is bunk because they were equally hard (especially when there are gnarly steep hills involved). But in that moment, mile 12 crowds my view. Each next step seems heavy and impossible. But mile 12 is also where I find these peeps who are in it with me, who believe in me, and somehow knowing that they’re in mile 12, too, and knowing I believe in them too to do maybe the ordinary things which under the circumstances feel like super extraordinary things...these are mercies. They remind me. They speak to my heart and give me courage. They humble me. They give me pause to consider what I’ve given thus far, and quiet the noise to take those next steps. I’ll say those peeps are often my family members. They’re ever so good to me. They stand with me. They’re also my peeps at work trying to chip away at the same challenges. And peeps all over the world who I’ve come to love and appreciate. It’s like a minute to breathe...and then get back to it. To take it through to the full measure of the 13 and change. This is where I remember that I didn’t start just to stop. This is where will gains power. #wedothistogether #253>19 #sparklymugging #princessjasmine #grateful #evenifidontalwaysknowhow #findtheway #adventuresinthepacnorthwest
