What would you do if you weren't afraid?
I think about this question often. To be honest, this was the question that started my journey with running. It was December 2021, and I was having a conversation with my roommate at the time about New Year’s resolutions and why they never work, even when we make them with the best intentions.
I remember saying I wanted to be a better runner. At that point, I was around 220 lbs — in decent enough shape, but a far cry from my heaviest, which was over 320.
Up until then, the majority of my weight loss had come from weight training, walking more, and improving my nutrition. My idea of cardiovascular training was walking on the incline treadmill for 15 minutes before chest day.
That night, I asked myself: What would I do if I weren’t afraid? I sat at our kitchen table and signed up for the Coney Island, New York, half marathon in July. What followed was six months of attempting to train and get better at running — with zero experience (other than the one timed mile in high school).
Those six months were filled with frustration, failed attempts at distance targets, and very sore legs. But in July 2022, I crossed the finish line with a time of 2 hours and 17 minutes, just in time to watch my roommate also cross the finish line. Did I forget to mention I convinced him to sign up too?
Was the race or my training perfect? Absolutely not, but I did it anyway. I accomplished something that not only scared me six months ago but that person didn’t even believe it was possible.
Did I know that race would change the course of my life? At the time, no. I just wanted to be in better cardiovascular shape. I was tired of being out of breath all the time.
Now, here we are, almost three years later. I completed my most recent marathon with a time of 3 hours and 42 minutes, and running has had a profoundly positive impact on all aspects of my life.
I’ll say it one more time: What would you do if you weren’t afraid?
Fear is an inch deep and a mile wide. It isn’t until we confront that fear and step into it that we realize we’re not underwater, drowning, and realize that most of that fear was just in our heads to begin with.
It’s only on the other side of that fear that we find some of the most impactful and happiest moments of our lives.
If you’ve gotten this far, thank you. I offer you a challenge: The next time you feel that fear of the unknown, fear of failure, or any other form it may take, ask yourself:
What would I do if I weren’t afraid? The answer might surprise you.
Find Your 1%
Have a great week!
GTY
