What Running Has Taught Me

Running isn't only great because it keeps you healthy and fit. It has taught me many life lessons over the five years that I have been a runner. They are lessons that aren't specific to running, they can be applied at any time, during anyone's life. Running has helped me through struggles and hard times in my life, because of the lessons that I have learned while doing it.
1. You can't get anywhere without a little bit of hard work. This may seem obvious, but its the truth. I went into my first cross country season not wanting to work hard, but I still wanted to do well. I realized that the amount of effort that I put into running, is the amount of success that I see come out at the meets. Success is my biggest reward.
2. Even when you do your best, you may be disappointed. There would be meets in which I tried my hardest and ran as fast as I could possibly go, but I was still upset with the time that I received. It is only motivation to work harder and do better the next time.
3. You are lapping everyone on the couch. Even if you feel like your having a bad day or if you are feeling down about yourself, you are still doing better than those who don't even try.
4. See the glass half full, not half empty. Don't look at how far you still have to go, look at how far you have come.
5. You are stronger than you think. Stop thinking about yourself as having limits, you are strong and can do anything that you can put your mind to.
6. Train your mind. Your mind is a powerful thing; running is 10% body, 90% mental. You have to not only train your body, but also train your mind.
7. Stay confident. Confident is the key to success, and you are better than you think you are.
8. Set manageable goals. If you continue to meet your small goals along the way, it keeps you motivated and working hard, leading up to even bigger and better goals.
9. If at first you don't succeed, try try again. Never give up on your goals, even if you fail time after time, pick yourself up and keep on moving.
10. Stay positive. There are going to be bad days, the key is to be able to get over them and realize that it was just a bad day. It is always easier to run if you are in the right frame of mind and you have no regrets.