The Human Race

The Human Race dan skognes motivation blogger speaker teacher trainer coach educatorThis is not about the different types of people in the world. It is really about the race we all are called to run. Frankly, I think a lot of folks are not conditioned for the race ahead of them.

I remember when they used to make us run in gym class. I hated it! I did not like it and still don’t to this day. I never got the “runner’s high,” I just had aches in my side and wanted to throw up.

Oddly enough, I loved to play sports which required running. I guess the difference for me was that football, soccer, and several other sports I played required you to run, but it was more sprinting than the long drawn out marathon style of running. I realize a lot of people love to just run…but I am not one of them. However, there are many things I have observed from runners that we can all apply to our lives:

  • You have to be in great condition to run well. That means training and disciplining yourself to eat a balanced diet, get proper exercise, and rest. We all need to do that, right?
  • Long distance runners understand the power of pacing. They get in a rhythm and it just seems to flow. That is how our daily lives should be. We should pace ourselves instead of going all out 24/7. Pacing is like learning to say no to things that would distract us from our goal, staying focused on where we want to be, and then prioritizing our daily activities to do those things that really matter.
  • The most critical thing a runner wears is his shoes. In life, the lesson is to have quality tools to support your mission, whatever that might be. A mechanic will tell you that without the proper tools, the job won’t get done correctly…if at all. Buy quality tools and you will never be disappointed in them.
  • You may be competing with others as a runner, but ultimately you are really competing with yourself. That goes for life too. Don’t worry about what other people are doing around you. Be the best at what you do, and never settle for mediocre. As long as you have given all you have got, then you have nothing to apologize for.
  • Great marathon runners save some gas for the finish line. In life, make sure you have left enough in the tank to finish strong. I want to slide into home plate out of breath with a grin on my face and proclaim, “What a great life!”

Shalom!

Dan Skognes

4 Responses to “The Human Race”

  1. I really appreciate what you write!

    • Dan Skognes says:

      Thanks Kelly. I appreciate it. Shalom! Dan

      • Just wondering, I do not remember the title, but in it you had your life in fourths, first 25 years, 50 years, 75 years, 100 years? I had put my life into thirds, 30 years, 60 years, 90 years….how old are you? I will be 60 on the 26th of August. Now I am thinking about changing my life into 4ths too!