Salaam friends,

Two years ago I signed up for a 5K race (3.1 miles). I was confident in my stamina and pace. I’m a soccer player, and I don’t smoke or drink.

I felt good after the first mile. By the second, people began to zoom passed me. So I picked up my pace.

When the finish line came to view a jolt of energy surged through me. Another guy, my age, was running next to me. I nodded, he nodded back, and we ran as hard as we could. I crossed the finish with my hands raised like I won first place.

I picked up my metal and headed back to my car. Ten minutes later I was still breathing hard. Then a pain in my lunges area began to take hold of me, squeezing my inside like something was about to explode. I sat on a bench nearby. The pain traveled to my stomach and I wanted to lay down. But there were runners who had just finished the race all over, happy and cheerful. I wanted to throw up, hoping it will elevate the pain. But the peanut butter and jelly sandwich I ate in the morning held to my stomach wall. The pain got worse. I sat on that bench for 15 minutes in agony. Once it subsided I walked to the car and reclined my seat, and laid down with my eyes closed until I was ready to drive.

A year later I signed up for a 10 mile race.

I trained for the race for three months. The first time I ran I was done at two miles. A week later I increased it to three. My average run began to fall between four and five miles. Two weeks before the race I was running seven miles. I was ready. Then I got sick a week before the race— real sick.

There was a virus going around. My wife tried to talk to me out of going to the race, and at some point I considered dropping out. But then I began to feel better day after day. I didn’t run all week, so my body can recover.

The morning of the race I woke up at 5:30, and ate a light breakfast. My wife drove me to the starting line. I got my number and took off. I didn’t look to my sides, and forced my self to focus on my steps. When a person passed me I turned my attention to my legs. I kept reminding myself that I wasn’t there to compete, I was there to complete!

I ran the 10 miles in one hour and 27 minutes. It was my best timing ever.

🔖 Quote to ponder

"If you wish to improve, be content to appear clueless or stupid."
— Epictetus

PS: I haven't sent a newsletter in a few weeks. Partly because I have been treating this newsletter like a homework, which is never fun. Now, I want to use it as a journal. It's more for me than anyone else. If you enjoy it, stick around.