Here is your challenge!

I get a little giddy with the start of each new year. Why? I see it as a rebirth – a time to start fresh. What better time to set a goal than the start of the new year?

In my book, If You Give a Mom a Marathon, I mention goals being my lifeblood. No truer words could be written. If I’m not going for a goal, I’m not happy. And, you know the saying…..”If mama ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy.” Yes, the people around me – mainly my family – are affected by my well being. Like it or not, this is true for most relationships, not just mine.

This is why I am presenting you with a challenge. If you are not currently working on a goal – okay, even if you are – set a goal (or another goal). Write it down, and go for it! It may take you longer than this new calendar year to accomplish it. Heck, it took me 5+ years of intense effort before I achieved my dream of qualifying for the Boston Marathon. (I ran about 30 “practice” marathons before I finally got the hang of pacing myself.) But, do you know what? When I crossed the finish line at Colfax Marathon in Denver with a Boston qualifying time, I had a sense of personal fulfillment like no other.

In this day and age of immediate gratification, I’m so glad I did not give up on my dream. Believe me, I was tempted to throw in the towel. I had a million legitimate excuses to forget about running Boston. I think that is often the problem with goals that take more than a year to accomplish. We get weary of trying. It is extremely difficult to keep going when your efforts don’t appear to be rewarded.

So, as I challenge you to set a goal and to persist despite obstacles and difficulties, I’m going to share with you my goal for 2018. I am hoping – let me restate this – I am planning – to run certified Boston Marathon qualifying times in the four remaining states in which I don’t yet have those times. Translation – After more than 5 years of not making one Boston Marathon time standard, I now have certified Boston Marathon times in 46 states. I’m not telling you this for the “Oh, look at me!” effect. I’m only stating this because 6 – 10 years ago, when I was trying so hard to get my Marathon times down, I never, ever would have thought I could have accomplished this feat. I believe that may be the case for many of us. We have yet to even tap into our potentials.

My challenge to you is to set a goal. Write it down. Make a plan. Tell your friends. Tell me. And most importantly, don’t give up! You will be happier, as will those precious people in your life!

Happy New Year!

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This post was written by Michelle Walker