Run
I went for a run the other Sunday morning. I took a new route round the park and somehow got caught up in the Cardiff Race For Life. It’s always nice to be applauded.
I’m always amazed at the people who turn out to cheer on the runners at marathons and races like that. They stand by the side of the road all day long and clap enthusiastically for hours until the last runner makes it home. But nobody applauds when you are training. Nobody sees the miles and sweat you put in behind the scenes.
When you are running alone it takes character and determination to keep on going when everything in you is telling you to give up. You have to decide before you start that you will keep on running, even when it begins to hurt and there is no one around to cheer you on.
The same is true for your career, your degree or your business, or whatever prize you choose to pursue. You may well be applauded if attempt something noble, and people will call you brave when you first start out on your own. But it isn’t long before you leave the supporters behind and you can’t hear the sound of applause any longer.
If you are expecting someone to be there to cheer you on every step of the way, then think again. It won’t be like that. The energy that you need to see it through won’t come from outside of you. You can’t rely on the encouragement of others to get you past the finish line - there has to be more than that. The determination to win has to come from within you. There has to be a something in you that just refuses to lie down no matter how much resistance and discouragement you face. There has to be some deep conviction that will keep you running even when there is no applause, and it’s just you, pounding on an empty pavement.
Leave Note / Reblog
Run Start-up Persistence
