We were doing a great run/walk, staying on pace so we would make it to the end before being timed out. Each having to remind the other to let go of the ego…wanting to do more than our bodies would allow and to truly be present in the moment.

Why is it so hard to be with what is rather than what you want it to be?!?

Then the unexpected happened…

We rounded the corner to mile 4 only to discover mayhem. Apparently the “main road” we were to run on is a state road and had to be re-opened to traffic at a specific time. (The race began 10 minutes late due to an accident on the course. Then, since Cathy and I had decided to do a combination of running and walking, we moved closer to the back, so we actually started a full 18 minutes late.)

We were redirected to do a 7-mile race, running the full half marathon was no longer a option for us. To say people were angry is an understatement.

How would you have handled your disappointement?

You have a BIG dream.  You have busted your butt to make it happen.  Overcome obstacles – both internal and external…and at no fault of your own you are turned away.

I was disappointed to be sure. However, I was grateful Cathy and I shared the same POV. Yelling and pitching a fit would not changed the circumstances or the outcome, so we might as well get on with it and have some fun.

We took off with a great attitude and were rewarded for it at the next water station. (Two miles from the end of the race.) Much to our surprise they were passing out beer rather than water. Reminding all of us we had done a great job, were in the final leg of the journey, and to have fun.

(In case you thought I was making it up, look at the image up top with our cups of beer.)

We finished strong knocking a minute off each of our last two miles.

We celebrated overcoming any obstacles that came our way…even those that were outside of our control.

Then, one of my favorite quotes by Thomas Crum popped into my mind from his book, The Magic of Conflict.

“The daily conflicts and struggles are still there.
It is our relationship to them that can be different.

Instead of seeing the rug being pulled out from under us,
we can learn to dance on a shifting carpet."

I hope you choose to dance the next time you are faced with the unexpected or disappointment.

It’s about time to run another race; any of you want to join me for the next big adventure?