Earlier this month, I ran my first half marathon in Chicago. Which is absolutely crazy because I can vividly remember a time when running even just one mile before high school basketball practice felt like an eternity. In my mind, nothing could be more uncomfortable or pointless than the act of running. But somehow, one mile at a time ever since, I have grown to love it.

As I signed up for races over the years, my internal dialogue went something like this:

Before my first 5K: “There is no way I can run that far.”
Before my first 10K: “There is no way I can run that far.”
Before my first 15K: “There is no way I can run that far.”

So of course, as I was training for the Chicago Half Marathon, the very same thought went through my head. But one simple question pushed me forward: “…Or can I?” That question kept me training. And that training got me to the starting line of this race a few weeks ago. 

As I was running, I realized (13.1 miles provides you with ample time to think about some really random things): Life is like a half marathon.

In order to succeed, you need to…

- Mentally and physically train yourself to be the best you can be.
- Understand that the very beginning and very end are always the hardest two points on any journey- and choose to push through them anyway.
- Slow down to take a breath when you trip up or break down.
- Stay hydrated all the time. It’ll help you avoid brutal hangovers and other questionable decisions.
- Go at your own pace and do what feels right for you- no matter how fast or slow everyone else around you is going.
- Find your cheerleaders- the people on the sidelines who motivate you, cheer you on…even hold up goofy neon signs if need be. They are the people who believe in you and what you stand for. And in your weakest moments, they are the ones who keep you moving forward.

But perhaps the biggest way in which life is like a half marathon? In both a race and in life, you’ve got to strive to accomplish the things you think are impossible- the possibilities that make you say, “There’s no way.”

We have a tendency to avoid or run from the work it would take to make an “impossible” dream come true. But the truth is that there’s always a way. There’s always a possibility.

Christopher Reeves once said, “ At first, dreams seem impossible, then improbable, and eventually, inevitable.” If we only allowed ourselves to start the work it would take to make our dreams come true, I’m certain we’d live our way into the heart, soul and truth of that quote.

The outcomes we deem “impossible” are the very outcomes that will change the world and change our lives. So what are you waiting for? Chase after the impossible.

The moment you begin, you’ll see the situation change before your very eyes from “impossible” into “I’m possible.” And that is one of the best feelings in the world.

I chased after the impossibility of running a 5K. Then a 10K. Then a 15K. That chase got me to the finish line of my first half marathon- a distance I once thought was impossible for me to run. 

Will I attempt to run a full marathon now? No, no. There’s definitely no way I could run that far.

…Or can I?