This weekend passed, I learned that it really is true – whether you think you can, or you think you can’t – you will always be right.
The way I learned this lesson in practice was on the road as I was completing the Gold Coast Half Marathon. Yep. I did it. I completed it! in 2hrs and 15 minutes.
Even though this was 15 minutes over my goal time, I did it.
As I was nearing the finish line of this 21km event, I was getting really tired.
I had spent most of the event pushing myself to go faster than the race pace I had been doing in my training so by that 21st kilometre I was pretty tired.
At the end of the event, I rounded the corner to enter into a carpeted area with a huge grand-stand that held 100s of spectators. I had never been in this event before and I didn’t know what the finish line was going to look like but I could see that I was soon to come across it.
I looked ahead and I saw a big blue arch up ahead and in my haze of tiredness I had thought that the archway represented the finish line.
Despite my immense fatigue and burning muscles, when I saw that archway in that moment, despite my exhaustion, I found some last extra reserve of power inside me and I had decided to “finish strong!” I told myself.
In a moment of sheer determination I started legging it as hard as I possibly could go, heading towards that archway. I was determined to finish strong. Feeling nauseous and tired I made it to the archway and just as I passed through it I noticed that in big letters it said on it “only 250metres to go!”
“Oh my god” my mind said. It swore. Then all of a sudden I started to slow down back to a run pace again and out of my marvel character, “go” mode sprint.
As I resumed the exhausted jog I realised “wow, i feel so nauseous I think I may be sick in front of all these spectators!”
I genuinely thought that it was the first time I would either pass out or vomit just in that moment! I had officially used up my reserves.
But I kept moving.
I kept moving even though everything inside me was in shock that I had to keep moving!
Then sure enough, before me, the actual finish line arrived and I got to stop.
Satisfied and tired and sore. I had made it! 21km done!
It was an epic achievement for me.
What I learned on that way to the finish line though was quite visceral.
Whether I thought I could or I thought I couldn’t, literally changed how I experienced every moment in that last 500 metres to the finish line.
Such is life the same as that moment, heading to the finish line.
Whether you think you can do it, or you think you can’t, you are right.
Your head absolutely creates your world.
