I did what I said I'd NEVER do

Evening friend ☺️

I hope you have had a great week - but how is it Sunday evening already 🤯.

Let’s talk about hard things. The kind of things that fill you with anxiety.

This story finishes with my daughter. Sharing my story through her eyes.

And it starts with the biggest lessons I learnt last Sunday running 26.2 miles.

Some of those lessons being running so far in the rain causes serious chafing issues, incredibly swollen knees and a slight fear of “have I wet myself or is that just sweat?”

But I quickly realised I wasn’t alone with any of those issues.

However, on a more serious note, I always said I would never attempt to run a marathon. So what changed?

Belief.

That is what led me down this path.

Self belief. Starting to see and realise that I am way more capable than maybe I first thought. It opened up this door for me.

I had gotten comfortable with being uncomfortable. What that truly meant to me was that I wasn’t really pushing myself anymore. I was cruising.

Now that’s not what I promote. That is not what I want my ladies to do. I see their potential but I wasn’t seeing my own.

Cue reaching out to the Scoliosis Association to get a spot in the marathon.

Those of you that run will understand where I am coming from when I say this…

Running is a rollercoaster! There are highs, lows and everything in between.

Those long runs can be gruelling.

Training in the winter months is a shear test of discipline, grit and how badly you want it.

It takes a huge toll on your body, family life and time.

I now understand why 0.01% of the population completes a marathon.

In February I had 6 weeks off running due to injury. I spent hours at a time on a stationary bike (😴) in minus temperatures. I was ice bathing, spending a fortune on treatment, focusing on breathing techniques, stretching, you name it and I was probably giving it a go.

A marathon isn’t for the faint hearted BUT it is absolutely worth all the time, effort, energy and dedication that you put into it.

I learnt that anyone can rock up to these kinds of events. People that haven’t put in the effort, the time, the work etc and they can give it their best shot on the day. But in my eyes the true winners are those who spent hours training in the dark, wet and coldest months of the year for this.

Doing such an event is hard. Mentally and physically. At times you feel broken. But the positives always outweigh the negatives. You were out there pushing yourself to your absolute limits not realising what your body could do, experiencing all these different emotions. No other sport or training has made me feel so tested yet so proud.

I have a new level of appreciation for my body! I am so grateful for it.

For the first time in my life, I am proud. Proud of me and proud of what I have achieved.

It has finally sunk in that I am fulfilling my goals to lead from the front, prove that anything is possible, doing hard things teaches you valuable lessons and putting myself in my clients shoes.

Evie took my medal into school and shared with all of her school friends how proud she was of mummy. She even asked to do the mini marathon for children next year. That proves to me, I have done my job of being her inspiration and proving to her anything is possible. My work isn’t done and I believe it never will be. I know it is a continuous job to inspire her, teach her and show her, but I can now see, it is paying off.

This is your reminder that YOU can do the hard things, the goals that feel out of reach right now, the inspiration you’ve always wanted to be. You have that power but it must start with belief.

Start believing and the rest will follow.

Love as always,

Rhi ✌🏻