Where Am I?

dreamstime.com

 While living in Southern Illinois, I had a co-worker who was an avid walker. He didn’t just stroll, he was a race walker. He could walk faster than I could run! When he returned from a weekend half-marathon, I asked him, “How did it go?” He just shook his head and laughed.

He explained how the walkers started an hour before the runners. Being competitive, he shot out of the starting gate, well ahead of the other walkers. When he came upon the first intersection of the course, his eyes darted quickly over the area, searching for a sign, a cone, an arrow painted on the pavement, a volunteer directing the competitors, … something, …anything! He saw nothing except a choice on which direction to go. He chose a direction and pressed on, increasing his pace through the town and into the countryside. Then the road dead-ended, in front of a farmhouse. He had to turn around and go back the way he came.

Three miles later he arrived at the infamous intersection. This time spectators were there to cheer him on and direct him back on course. Eventually he crossed the finish line, well out of placing, but with an admirable time (for 19 miles!) and the satisfaction of knowing that he didn’t give up, he simply turned around and completed the race.

He is not the only runner or walker to get lost during a race! 

• Melissa Kitcher went missing for nearly 12 hours after running off the trail during the Trail Hog Half-Marathon at the Carlton Reserve in Sarasota County, Florida. She realized she was lost but her phone “froze” at the beginning of the race and she couldn’t call for help. She ran over 16 miles before a park department employee finally located her.
• During a marathon in Bangalore, India, Indrajeet Patel was ahead of thousands of other runners. At about 10 miles, he realized that something was not right. Race officials had not marked the course nor were there volunteers to help direct runners. He missed a turn and ran in the wrong direction. Indrajeet had to ask people on the street for directions and even begged money from strangers so he could take the metro to get back on course.
• Ultra-runner, Jeff Stern, described his first race: “I was ready to go and have a great debut but I got lost 15 minutes into the race. I spent 20 minutes running in circles and trying to figure out where to go.”

The closest I have ever come to getting lost during a race was during my first biathlon. I was cycling so slow that I lost sight of the other competitors on the hilly, farm lanes. At the crest of each hill I searched for other cyclists ahead of me but saw no one. I pressed on, thinking, “Where am I?”

Then, just when I was certain that I was lost, and was about to turn around - I spotted a traffic cone with an arrow sticking out of it at the top of the next hill. I was on course! I came in last place, but at least I wasn’t lost!

Life rarely goes exactly the way you plan. Setbacks and obstacles – like getting lost during a race - are a part of life and are the challenges that can lead to some important life lessons. 

Turn around - Sometimes in life we find ourselves headed down a wrong path – an unsatisfying job, relationship, living situation, etc. We get that “gut feeling” something is not right but we keep on going down the same path. This is the “Pick and Stick” path - where you made a choice in the past that isn’t working for you now, it’s a dead end. But you stick with it simply because of the time you've invested into it. If you are lucky, like my co-worker, you will realize you are at a dead end, turn around, and look at where you have come from. Then ask yourself, “Where am I going?” Recognize that you have options and make a choice that best suits you and your desired path.

Seek and Accept Help – Many people think that asking for help means admitting weakness but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Asking for help takes courage, an open mind, and a desire to succeed. Who knows where Melissa and Indrajeet would have ended up if they hadn’t gotten help? Many of us readily welcome the help, support, and advice from fellow runners and walkers. Likewise, we should welcome help in all areas of our life not as a sign of weakness, but as a sign of our confidence and strength.

Keep Moving until You Figure it Out - There’s something about deliberately moving forward that reminds you that everything is going to be okay. It may not be the answer to all of life’s problems but there’s a good chance it will take you towards it.

Success is not just in landing that dream job, achieving that ideal balance in your life, or finding that perfect partner. It’s in the smaller steps you take to reach those goals, and how you learn and grow along the way. When I thought I was lost on that farm lane, I somehow knew I just had to keep going. I realized that sometimes you just have to take a risk, jump in, and figure it out.

Stuff happens! Obviously having a well-marked course and people providing direction along the way make a huge difference. However, in life, as in a race, there will be situations when you won’t know which way to go or wonder if you are on the right course. What really matters then is your ability to adapt to the situation.  You may need to turn around, ask for help, or take a risk.