That being said, the other day I was running because I'm training for a half marathon. I've been training for quite a few weeks now and I have run up to eight miles. On Wednesday, I was supposed to be running 5 miles and about 2 miles into the run, I found myself going uphill and I felt like dying. My lungs were burning, my legs were burning, I couldn't figure out why I was struggling so hard on this run, and I wanted to quit. I wanted to walk the rest of the way up the hill and then I wanted to cut my run short, and just head home and be satisfied with a less-than-four-mile run. I kept making excuses. My run two days ago was longer than it should have been, so I'm tired. I have to work earlier than usual today, so it's okay if I quit a bit early. I'll run more tomorrow. The list goes on.
But when I started running I made a rule: Never walk going uphill. I knew that it would get hard. I knew that I would want to quit, but I'm determined to keep going. So I kept running. Yes, that uphill mile was a little slower than the downhill one that followed, but I did it. And when I got to the top of the hill and started down the other side, my lungs weren't burning as much and my legs had found their rhythm once again. I finished the five miles. And I came up with another rule: Never change course while going uphill.
Funny how running is a lot like life. What great therapy it is - and free, too! Often in life, I find myself wanting to run full speed ahead through those uphill times. It's like eating gross food - I just want to hold my breath, close my eyes and hope I don't taste it as I get through it quickly. But usually, that's not a good idea. Well, holding my breath to avoid tasting food is fine, but sprinting uphill, both literally and metaphorically, is a bad idea. I lose steam and become frustrated, and discouraged. At the top of the hill, instead of being able to look back and enjoy the view, noticing everything I accomplished and learned, I want to lay down and recover, never looking to see how far I've come. To save me (or you) the explanation, let me just say it reminded me a lot of this talk by Elder Uchtdorf, and Apostle of the Lord.
Oh and one other thing. That rule about not changing course uphill? I should have started running a little earlier. Maybe that rule would have saved me from changing my major six times.
