A Beautiful Work In Progress

by Mirna Valerio

This felt much like DoubleTap in that I had little will or need to finish. I learned to accept not finishing a particular event as a mode of self-care and injury prevention.

Nobody ever achieved anything epic without doing the requisite work, even if the work itself is humdrum, boring, run-of-the-mill kind of work.

Instead of being ashamed of doing what you do or being what you are, I ask two important questions: Why not celebrate it? Why not be proud of the fact that the body you are in can do great things?

There is still a beauty about simply doing the difficult thing that I will never be good at, for the pure pleasure of having engaged in the process.

Running is a cleansing, life-changing, and deeply fulfilling odyssey that continues to bring me to new heights and new lows. During this journey, I approach the human being that I am meant to be.

DNF. Did not finish. For many runners, these three letters are painful reminders that they were unable to complete their task or reach their goal.