# Yes, It Is a Race

Source: https://dairycoach.com/yes-it-is-a-race/
Published: 2012-06-27
Author: Tom Wall

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You’ve heard the saying “Life’s a Race”, right? So what do you think, is it?

Or, do you tend to think of life as more of a journey?  Depending on the day, you might even say that life’s a… well, a lot of other things. There sure are a lot of metaphors for what life is!

As for me, I’d have to argue that life IS a race. Now, I’m not suggesting that it’s a sprint, but rather, I think it’s more of a marathon. You see, sprinters are focused on burning everything they’ve got right away because it’s all about the short-term payoff. Marathoners on the other hand, need endurance so they can maintain a steady pace for the long-term.

Whether you see life as a sprint or a marathon, finishing strong remains the challenge.

Now by no means is my assessment of running “official”. But with that being said, there are “unofficially” three parts of a run… the beginning, the middle, and the end. I know… pretty profound, isn’t it? Like life, everything you do matters when you’re running. But, not all three ‘stages’ are created equal.

The Beginning

Starting anything is often pretty difficult. In fact, when it comes to running, I personally think the hardest two minutes of a run are the first two. Like jumping into a cold lake, you can’t think about it, you just have to get moving. And so it is with every task and project you start. Sure, you could sit there and think about it all day. But at some point you just have to do it.

So… what’s on your list right now that you’ve been thinking about starting for a long time? Stop analyzing, start doing!

The Middle

Of course, the middle is pretty tough too. This is where all the real work is. Once you’re here, it takes discipline to maintain what you’ve started. This is where you need to stay focused on your end goal and do what it takes to achieve it. Unfortunately, it’s easy to get distracted without realizing that you’re losing ground and veering off course.

So… what distractions are causing you to lose sight of your goals and stealing precious time? Stay focused and keep reminding yourself of what you’re working hard to achieve!

The End

Finally, you’re so close to reaching your goal, you can almost taste it. Although you’re happy that you can see your destination, chances are you’re running on empty and questioning whether you have what it takes to finish. Don’t listen to that voice. That’s the side of your brain that makes excuses and feeds on weakness. If you give in and give up now, all the effort and sacrifices you made to get to this point will be wasted… all because you quit too soon.

So… what are you close to achieving right now that you find yourself resisting? Finish strong and enjoy the satisfaction of reaching your goal.

Although I go running a couple times a week, I don’t consider myself to be a “runner”. In fact, I don’t even really like running. I run because I can.

And that sounds a lot like life, doesn’t it? There’s probably a lot of things you don’t like doing every day. But here’s the thing… you’re fortunate that you’re still able to do them. Enjoy the race… the beginning, middle, and the end.