A few weeks ago I gave a presentation on personal wellness/work-life balance to some college students. I co-presented and they did such a great job that I was more of a presenter garnish than anything else. It was pretty nice (being a garnish), especially considering we gave the presentation 4 times.
I did submit a couple of pictures for the slide show and thought they would simply be in a rotation. Turns out I was to speak about one of them – this one in particular:
So I did. I told them what the Dopey Challenge was. Get this… each group clapped for me. How crazy is that? I can’t even begin to tell you how much I WAS NOT expecting this! They ooo-ed and awww-ed and started clapping! I must say, it was a real moment for me. Like most people, I tend to underestimate my accomplishments.
Part of this is because in blog-land, people run double digits on a regular basis. Many of the blogs I read/follow people are training for a marathon, have run ultramarathons or are cruising in on lots ‘o miles all the time. Don’t me wrong, I love reading about these experiences but because this has become so normalized in my brain, I downplay my own.
A week before the aforementioned presentation, a co-worker and I were talking about a work issue. It’s a giant project in which zapped my energy and most likely killed off a few brain cells per cortisol. Stress and anxiety, you da bomb. But I stuck with it and was determined to see it through. He challenged me a couple of times and while it frustrated me, I stood my ground and stuck up for myself. Toward the end of the discussion, he started complimenting me. He said, “you’ve stuck with this project – many people wouldn’t have. You run marathons – there is something different inside you than others.”
I wasn’t sure what to say because I was truly touched. I forget the grit and determination it takes to get through those damn 26.2 miles, or 13.1 or whatever number I am running during training (it feels like every mile actually). Doubt has crept in since training is hitting a snag due to August being so work-heavy. It was a good reminder to be proud of myself no matter what the clock says or my weekly mileage is at the current moment.
Amy's Recipe for Disaster 
I so get that. I will read in a post how someone just ran an awesome 25 miler just because they felt like it. And I’m sitting here going well I ran 25 in a week? But really it’s any run that rocks, no matter how far or at what pace. And Dopey? You rock!