A View From The Perch

I’ve run several marathons, and the last mile is always exhilarating. Regardless of how I felt during the race when I hit mile 25, I knew the end was near, which gave me a boost. I forgot about my pain and picked up my pace to finish strong with a strong kick. The crowd was a bonus – encouraging, loud and boisterous.

My best last mile was the Boston Marathon in 2011. It’s the ultimate marathon, and the city of Boston knows how to throw a party. When I turned the final corner, I was met by thousands of cheering fans sitting in bleachers and lining the street, which was four and five rows deep. It was an incredible atmosphere.

The final mile was also a time for reflection. After months of training, lonely runs, and restricted diets, it was time to enjoy the fruits of my labor. I could pat myself on the back with a job well done.

The last mile is a long way from the first training run. When I decided to run the Boston Marathon, I first had to qualify for the race by running another marathon, so the process started about two years before race day. In addition to training runs, I set goals, mapped training runs, and bought the proper equipment. Setting goals is paramount if you want to finish the last mile. Without goals, nothing happens.

Another benefit of finishing the last mile well was that it gave me the courage to plan for another race, a new opportunity.

What is your last mile? How will you finish? What new opportunities and adventures await?

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. ~ 2 Timothy 4:7