Gosh, this is THE hardest lesson of all for me (yet I feel the need to address it all the same.) If you are anything like me, you feel rushed when at first your plan does not succeed. You think that you’ve wasted all this time and effort because you have nothing to show for it. Your plan didn’t go as you “planned” and all you have is lost time and energy to show for it. You are frustrated, disappointed, anxious and RUSHED…

This predicament takes me back to my childhood and the story of the Tortoise and the Hare.

This is a classic case of the importance of pace. The hare was full of confidence due to his God-given speed. There was no question in his mind that he would win the race and he did what any hare would do..he ran! The tortoise knew he did not stand a chance by speed alone so he began as any tortoise would…slow and steady. The tortoise continued on exactly according to plan while the hare ran circles around him ultimately leading to burn out. The hare ran so far and fast that he decided to take a nap. All the while, the tortoise moved on.

We all know how this story ends, but the application is the premise of this post. What I hope to express (taken directly from the deliberate actions of the tortoise) is the value of pacing. Remember, a second chance is a blessing so resist the tendency to treat it as a burden. You do not have to rush so long as you make incremental progress. Rome was not built in a single day, but still stands in part to this very day. You will achieve your masterpiece as long as you do not quit. You will achieve your future hopes and dreams as long as you learn to keep yourself in the race!

This photo was taken at the end of a half-ironman. I was so tired but knew that quitting was not an option! I paced myself and finished with a podium appearance.