Unmeasured Determination

What does the word determination mean to you? Perhaps its doing whatever it takes to achieve a goal no matter what stands in your way. Maybe its tackling a daunting task in which it seems like there is nothing but endless obstacles in front of you, and yet you do not back down. Determination has got me through some of the toughest things in life. I wanted to achieve something so bad that it did not matter how much work I had to put in or how much it was going to hurt. Pain itself could not stop me, no matter how much agony I was in. My most recent experience in which pure determination kept me going was my first marathon. My muscles were giving out, my energy was zapping away, and each time I tried to breath I felt pain in my sides. But I was going to cross that finish line no matter what it took. And I did. But I was also motivated by a story I had read in Runners World 3 weeks earlier. Hyvon Ngetich was running in the Austin marathon and was leading the way until her body just gave out on her 50 meters away from the finish line. She literally fell to the ground and could no longer run or stand. But this did not stop her. She began to crawl to the finish line, having to stop more than once because she was so depleted. But she crossed the finish line unassisted. Now that is determination! Even after her body had failed her, she continued forward and would not be denied that finish! That is what determination means to me. When the odds are stacked against you, keep moving forward. Do not be denied what goal or dream you are running after. You are going to have to deal with setbacks, obstacles, and odds that may seem impossible to overcome. But if you want it bad enough, you can achieve it! 

                                          Hyvon Ngetich crosses the finish line at the 
                                                                   Austin marathon


You can find the article about Hyvon Ngetich in Runners World here