Discourage, Disappoint, and Determine

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Imagine a stampede. Footsteps pound around you. The breath of other mammals touches your neck. Dust speckles make it hard to see. Do you panic and stop or keep up?

I tried to keep up, but after the first five miles of California’s International Marathon, I regretted the decision. The telling pants and painful foot strikes forewarned me of the pending failure. Despite this awareness and thanks to my music turned to max, I ignored the signs.

Until mile 14, I maintained the gruesome group’s running pace. In search of relief, I ate a Rice Krispies treat and sipped an electrolyte-infused drink. Moments later, my pace plummeted.

Herds of runners left me in their dust.

My sub-3-hour and Boston Marathon goals shifted. I regrouped to focus on one thing.

Discouraged and disappointed, I kept going with relentless determination. I refused to quit or walk.

Instead, I acknowledged the suffering and sought the broader meaning of running 26.2 miles with 12K runners.

MarathonFoto Capture

My internal voice whispered, “Pain is inevitable. When difficult moments arise, we can either follow through to joy, reassess, or fold.”

On Sunday, I replied by focusing on the joy of completing my seventh marathon.

Elite athletes joined this year’s race. The winners finished in under 2:30:00.

When I reached the final stretch of the race near the Capitol, I repeated aloud, “Finish Strong.” I sprinted across the finish line at 3:42:45. It wasn’t my best time, 3:23:57, but I beat my first marathon’s pace almost twenty years ago.

That’s a win worthy of celebration.

Determine

I’ve stayed fit for over twenty years. Determination to be healthy has paid off.

In December, the Kwanzaa principle of Kujichagulia encourages self-determination. It’s about defining, naming, and understanding ourselves.

How will you explore this principle in the final weeks of 2025 and beyond? Think about how you can better define, name, and understand yourself.

Appreciate yourself and know there’s always more to do, improve, and experience. #stayhungry

After I finished the race, I walked another mile to my car, stretched, changed, and drove to my kids’ swim meet.

They didn’t care that I was sore or smelled like I was lost in a stampede of onions. I made it to see their last races. My presence was enough, or at least that’s what I told myself.

Like my performance in the marathon, fatherhood never stops.

Would you like to sponsor my next marathon race? I need $300 to purchase a new pair of running shoes and cover the registration fee. Contribute to the Keep Vernon Writing/Running Fund Here.

Keep the momentum going on one of your goals and end this year strong. If you need some encouragement or want to work together, subscribe to this blog, buy a book, or enroll in coaching services. Let’s connect and explore your full potential.