When a coworker discovered that I also loved to run, he invited me to an upcoming event….something called the “Vertical Mile.” I had recently relocated to Dallas, Texas and wasn’t familiar with the event.
“I don’t know though…you might not have time to get ready,” Noel warned me.
A challenge? Well, of course, I would do it!
I routinely ran 5K and thought it wouldn’t be a problem to get ready for the race. I wasn’t looking to win…just to have fun. So I started training…climbing the 14 floors to my work rather than taking the elevator, running every other day, eating well and no alcohol. I had a few weeks. I’d be fine.
The day of the race came and I arrived at the building. Staring up that massive tower of glass and steel, I began to realize how foolish I had been.
Reunion Tower is a 561-foot observation tower…that’s taller than the Washington Monument in D.C.! At the top is a gorgeous observation deck in the shape of a ball – making it instantly recognizable to anyone from the area.
I picked up my number for the ¼ mile challenge. 50 stories to the top and I had signed up for not one, not two….but THREE trips up those stairs!
Queuing up for the start, I began to feel a little sick. But I was going to give it my best shot. I was too embarrassed not to even try.
By the end of the first trip, I already felt tired…like at the end of a long run. By the end of the second trip, my legs were ON FIRE! Resting in the elevator on the way back down…I contemplated quitting.
How on earth was I going to make it up 50 more floors?!?
At the bottom there was a crowd of cheering supporters, encouraging and clapping…offering us drinks. I refused. I knew if I drank at that point, I would be throwing up before I got to the top.
And damn it…I was going to do it. Floor after floor I climbed.
My heart was pounding. My lungs were bursting. My legs were shaking.
I was using my arms on the rails to pull myself as much as I was using my legs. I didn’t dare stop to rest…I wasn’t sure I could get going again.
Finally, in a rush of adrenaline, I climbed the last flight of stairs and burst onto the observation deck to a crowd of cheering people.
Slowly I walked around and around the deck, sipping Gatorade and watching others finish their races. Waiting to hear my results…
Dead last.
I had come in dead last for my age group.
There was a woman more than double my age who had finished in less time.
I was mortified.
Now I had never expected to WIN, but I most definitely did not expect to be last!
I went home defeated and spent the weekend trying to work the soreness out of my body before going back to work.
Monday morning, Noel pounced on me first thing. Excitedly talking about the race and how much fun it was and how we had to do it again next year. He suddenly realized how quiet I was.
“What’s wrong?”
I confessed my embarrassing ranking, fully expecting an onslaught of teasing to start.
Instead, Noel softly reminded me of a few important facts:
- I actually finished the race – not everyone did.
- I was older than everyone in my age bracket – only a couple of months from my birthday which would put me in the next older group.
- I was a computer programmer with a desk job who commuted for two hours every workday – I didn’t have hours upon hours to train.
You see, I had let my ego downplay – no actually RUIN – what I had accomplished. Ego had put more emphasis on my failures than my wins.
Don’t let that happen to you, my dear friends! Don’t let your ego diminish what YOU are accomplishing. Don’t let the successes of your peers discourage you.
Keep on YOUR path. Keep true to YOUR journey. And celebrate YOUR wins…no matter what they are.
Because every step forward is important.
I am here cheering you on.
And I’ll see you on the observation deck.
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