Keeping Up

As most of you know, I run with my niece in the park two maybe three times a week. We run a 5K which is fancy talk for about 3.2 miles. Our route is about 3.4. Lots of people of all ages run in the park. Most of them just run the "trail" which both ways equals to about 2.5. Not us, we are hard core! Anway, my niece is younger than me (by a lot) and in better shape (again, by a lot!). So, when we run, we start out together, but after about 10 steps she pulls away and remains ahead of me by 1/2 to 3/4 of a mile the entire time. I feel bad because she is always having to wait at the finish line... but I just can't keep up. Yesterday, I was tired, it had been 3 days since I had even walked any distance, it was cold and I told her that I might not even make the entire loop. Just a feeling I had. I had no motivation and knew as such, I would not be able to keep up. She told me to just try........that's all.......just do my best. I was a doubter but we hit our stride. And the journey began. I noticed that we stayed together and I was trying to match my stride to hers. Her legs are longer so I was basically running while she was jogging. But when I looked up we had traveled about a 1/2 mile and there we were still side by side. I began to focus on "keeping up" and before I knew it we had made the mile and a half mark. I began to think "I can do this" and with each step my confidence grew. As we neared the two mile mark, that euphoric feeling of accomplishment began to settle in and grow with each step. As we got ready to cross the Celebration Bridge to the END of our journey, she and I BOTH were grinning ear to ear. When we crossed the "finish line" together, she hugged me and we both were so excited. I did the "Rocky" dance at the top of the steps. What a feeling. And as we walked back to the car we decided that I had finally built up enough stamina to match her pace. Stamina. Keeping on and keeping up. It is the same with anything. If we just keep putting one foot in front of the other, take deep breaths, and don't quit....we can keep up with anything. Our lives, our children, our jobs, our hopes and dreams. It is easy and common to "get behind" but not if we focus on keeping up. Not if we are unwilling to be comfortable ( as I was ) with "falling behind." Not if we just condition ourselves to make it to the end. Whatever the journey. It takes time and practice but one day you look up and there is the finish line. It's not about winning, or losing. It is just about keeping up.