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Blogging, Faith, Fear of Flying, Living in Hawaii, Marathon training and running, Middle Age, Parenting, Teaching
One of my favorite mantras for my students, for my young daughter, and for myself is “Finish Strong!”
With my students, I repeat this refrain as they come close to finishing a poem or closing out a semester (or even during the last five minutes of class!).
My daughter hears me chant these words when her other father patiently sits with her during endless hours of homework or when we close out a weekend where in spite of however much excitement we try to provide, she still wants more!
For me, whether I say Finish Strong out loud or just think it during a challenging work assignment, when closing out a fiscal year, parenting for several hours, or toward the end of a 15-mile training run, it’s a familiar theme that is comforting and often effective.
Lately, though, I’ve begun using another mantra: “Don’t Peak Too Soon!”
I can’t wait to start and finish my 25th marathon this summer, but it’s in late July! Were it not for my fear of flying, I would enter one in April or May. I’ve increased my weekly mileage, been watching my diet and am at a good marathon weight, have enjoyed my long runs, and mentally am in a pretty good place.
But I’m gearing up and peaking too soon, and my legs have been objecting, sometimes loudly, to the enthusiasm and overtraining.
So I’ve pulled back. My weight is fine, my diet is still reasonable, and, best of all, I sleep through the night rather than stumble once or twice in the dark to stretch and massage cramps.
I should have seen this coming, but I’ve been the kind of guy who likes knowing the end of a story before I read it in its entirety!
So I need to remind myself of this at work, too, where I have three months left in the fiscal year and goals to achieve before I can take several days off and watch Wimbledon in early July!
And I can use this pretty obvious lesson in my coaching students and my daughter who can see the finish line for the end of the school year.
Guess what?! We’re not there yet!