We had a race at the gym last week. 6 laps with exercises in between. About 1 mile total, awekward distance (not a sprint and not long distance so kind of hard to pick the right pace if you don’t do this often).
I remember running, somewhere around lap 3 or 4 and realizing that I started off too fast. I’m on the verge of exhaustion, heart rate is through the roof, I’m about to puke and/or faint. I realize: there’s absolutely no reason to push myself so hard, nothing will happen if I slow down, nobody will care if I finish last, I’m not an athlete, I’m a software nerd.
But I couldn’t make myself slow down. I just had to fight, I couldn’t give up. Apparently it’s in my veins. It’s hard to say at this point whether this is something I was born with or acquired during the 15 years of cross-country skiing. But it’s part of me, something I can’t control. I’ve learned to never give up.
Very often, we find ourselves in situations when it seems like this is it, you won’t make it, it’s hopeless, it’s not achievable. This breaking point is very important. It is the most critical moment of the entire process (whatever that may be: a race, a new project, new job, relationship, skill that you’re trying to master, or life itself…). This is the moment that defines the end result. This is when it’s most important to not give up – the moment you lose hope.
Don’t give up, fight and make it happen. Overcome your own weakness, because you can control what’s in your head. You’ll be surprised to see what you’re capable of.
I came in 3rd that day (out of 20 people, both men and women). I thought it wasn’t bad for a geek. I could hardly walk and had a pretty bad headache but I was happy. I pushed myself, I didn’t give up, and I surprised myself again.
…And I didn’t puke. That was definitely an achievement.