Keep Showing Up

In case you did not know, I run. I run because it pushes me to be a better version of me. I run because I just feel better after I have finished a run. I run because I like to eat good food that is not always good for me. I run because it helps me to think. There are many reasons to run.

I know what some of you are thinking... good for you. I don't run and I don't need you to tell me why you do run. Am I right?

I am sharing this so that you understand where this is coming from.

The Boston Marathon was last Monday. The Boston Marathon is like the Super Bowl or the World Series for running. It is the world's oldest marathon and one of the most elusive marathons to enter and win. That is why their logo is a unicorn.

This year's Boston Marathon was one of the most miserable weather days in the history of the race. It was very cold, very rainy, and very windy. Almost half of the elite athletes that started the race quit before it ended. It was a hard day, especially for those that are "made for running".
Des Linden made history on Monday. What did she do? See for yourself.

It was revealed in the post race marathon that she almost quit in mile 2 or 3. She said she was not feeling well. I am glad she was able to push through.  I am sure she is too.  As you saw in the video, she slowed down so she could support her fellow competitor, Shalane Flanagan (who won the NYC Marathon in the Fall of 2017) who was having a tough day. That is teamwork.  That is placing the needs of other's before your own.  We need more of that in the world today.

Des ended up leaving Shalane and the rest of the women's field behind at Mile 21. She became stronger and faster as the race went on. She pushed through the reasons to quit.
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About a month before Boson, she sent out this tweet:

"Every day I make the choice to show up and see what I've go, and try to be better."

What a great attitude about life.

​She's right. Some days it feels like everything falls into place and other days it feels like everything is falling all over the place. What do you do on those days that everything falls all over the place? Do you give in? Are you giving up on what could be your best day ever? How do you know if you give up?

I am sharing all of this to remind you that you need to keep showing up. The last few weeks of the school year are some of the toughest. Even the best educators struggle this time of you. You are not alone. Keep pushing. Keep showing up. I bet you will find that more days will fall into place than fall all over the place.

Think. Achieve. Succeed.

Jeff