Those Moments!

When I was growing up, softball was everything to me! I don't have the passion I once did when I was in high school and college, but I still enjoy playing. When I was a junior in high school, a game against Fort Dorchester, was one of many games I will never forget. I was coming up to bat with 2 runners on base and no outs. Coach gives me a signal, so I stepped in the box all confident, hit a double and scored the 2 runs. I am standing on second base grinning from ear to ear. Coach looks at me and says "great hit, but you missed the signal!" I didn't care, because I just knocked in possibly the 2 winning runs for the game. We were visitors so they had to bat one more time. We won in the end!

Coach chewed my butt!

I didn't understand it at the time. I am thinking "How can she be this upset with me when I knocked in the 2 winnings runs for the game?"

She gave me the bunt signal and instead, I had no idea what signal she gave me and swung away.

It all came down to MENTAL FOCUS!

You can have all the physical ability/talent in the world, but if you don't have mental focus, you may as well hang up your cleats now!

This is what I was thinking about my running shoes...just hang them up Rhonda!

I can physically run 8 miles at one time without stopping, but I have to keep telling myself to keep going. Running is 90% mental and 10% physical. On my days I run solo, I struggle like whoa! and I have to give myself pep talks! I am not physically tired, just mentally fatigued!

At my race on March 17th, The Catch the Leprechaun race, in Mount Pleasant under the Cooper River bridge, was a very nice scenic race, until we got to the boring part in the middle!

Rascal Flatts "What hurts the most" song playing on my ipod was not good "pump up" running music! I was dragging! I was thinking "Oh God, give me strength!"

I remembered a verse, Psalm 46:1 "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble."

Then the famous "Lip Gloss" song came on and the beat had me going for sure! Next race, I made sure to make a play list. My ipod had not been updated in about 4 years, seriously...no LIE!

That last little stretch was rough, but I was determined to beat my last time! I didn't have to give myself the "pep talk" because at this point my mental game was up to par with my physical game. I was excited and just sprinted to the finish line, beating my last time by almost 3 minutes. SCORE!

I have to remind myself all the time that running isn't easy. If it was, then everyone would do it! I am taking on a challenge and the difficulties I face will make my accomplishment more worthwhile in the end.