Zenspiration Magazine January Issue | Page 104

During a run, it would be easy to let a blister on your foot stop you running. Or succumb to that niggly pain in your knee telling you that a DNF is ok. Or maybe it’s that stitch tearing at your side telling you that it’s impossible to go on. Sure some injuries are showstoppers that mean you can’t go on – sadly this happens in life too. But you can always gear up and go for it again in the world of running – sometimes it’s not so easy with life. Some of the perceived obstacles are simply that, obstacles – after all, what the mind believes, the body achieves. Life requires the same commitment that a marathon does, to not stop until you get to the finish line. And like a marathon – there are no shortcuts. Life is about setting goals and achieving them; overcoming obstacles; celebrating the wins; and learning from the losses; and most of all pushing yourself to be the best you can at whatever it is you want to be. I always say, “Regret hurts more than failure.” So I’m planning a life with no more regrets and I’ll cop whatever failures come my way. And when I cross my life marathon finish line – I’ll be making sure that there is nothing left in the tank and I’ve given it my all, overcoming every obstacle I can along the way – it won’t be a DNF! Because when this race is over, I can’t just sign up for another. As those of you who have followed my blog for a while will know, part of my motivation for running only my second marathon was to raise money for Alzheimer’s Australia. My mum has been fighting dementia from Alzheimer’s for a number of years and it was one way I thought I could help her. She was very proud and at the same time thought I was crazy for doing it! Here’s a picture of her wearing the finisher’s medal from the 2012 Gold Coast Marathon. ZENSPIRATION.ORG 104