Dedication

What is dedication? Webster defines dedication as Self-Sacrificing devotion. When we dedicate ourselves we give ourselves to something, to a cause, to a purpose, to a team. It's a quality that I look for in people, something that I value highly. It means that they're willing to sacrifice themselves for something greater. Running requires a high level of dedication, in order to run to your peak performance you essentially have to run all year long. You have to run through the long winter with very little satisfaction, there's no speed work, so you rarely get any faster, and your times in general remain the same. You run indoors on the hard linoleum day in and day out always having to keep repeating to yourself that it's for the spring and for the fall. Then you have track where you train every day, through rain, snow, and wind, weather is of no importance, because you train to win, there's no allowances for weather, or personal weaknesses. If you choose to come you are rightly expected to give yourself to the cause of that region championship, so you can hold that trophy above your head, surrounded by your team, and run that victory lap cheering around the track, conqueror. Then you have the summer, you give every morning of your summer to this cause, to running every day for your team to get that region/state championship, and better yourself as a runner. You run countless hills and miles giving many hours of your time always looking forward to the fall that awaits and the races that will test and stretch your abilities and endurance that you worked so hard to build in the summer. When races don't go the way you want them to, you can't give up, you have to keep pushing, put in more time, and refocus and rededicate your efforts to try and get those times and help your team. It's impossible to ever reach your full potential if you are not willing to put in the time and dedication to achieve it. You cannot allow yourself excuses to the point that you aren't willing to run or push yourself to the utmost to reach that potential. Running brings out a persons true nature. It shows you what they are willing to give of themselves, whether they are willing to run through the pain, the cold, the hot, the everything, for something more. Or whether they will give in and submit to their body and the pressures that are inherent in running. It's a constant struggle, at times we all give in, and at times we all rise to the challenge. What defines our level of dedication is what we ultimately choose, and what we ultimately do. After a time where we struggled and we gave in, is it over, is that it, are we done? Or do we rise up and again face the challenge, this time with a new perspective, and a renewed determination and dedication to overcome the challenge, and we run and run till it we conquer it and begin anew, always pushing ourselves to stand a little taller, and race a little faster. That is what defines us, will we remain dedicated to our cause when opposition stands in our way and stares us down with the intimidating eyes of pain, suffering, and loss, or will we cower in fear and allow ourselves to be trampled beneath it. It's something we all have to decide. As for me, I pray that I will stare down my opposition and further dedicate myself until it is placed in the past, and I move on in my ongoing search for victory. I firmly believe that if we believe we are capable of overcoming an obstacle, we will overcome it, but only if we are willing to put in the time and effort to do so. Such is the power of a firm determination coupled with a strong, unwavering, dedication.