The first stage is Exhaustion. Yes, for the first 2-3 miles, I feel tired, and I wonder why I do these things to myself. It feels like an huge effort to be running, and I can't seem to find my groove. I feel a bit overwhelmed by the distance still ahead of me.
By mile 3, though, I am in a rhythm. I am in the Peace stage. I am comfortable and focused. In fact, miles 3-6 are usually my fastest in a race.
Miles 7-10 are Mental Challenge miles. I frequently do most of my Pep Talking during these miles. . .convincing myself that I can do this race, that I have trained, and that I am only fighting my mind, not my body. These are the miles when I just want to quit.
Miles 10-13 are my Second Wind stage. In my mind I am telling myself that I have "only 3 more miles" to go, and I know I can run three miles. I. Can. Do. This. I pick up my pace again. I feel more positive. I am looking forward to finishing, and am already thinking about a shower and coffee.
The finish line is in sight, so to speak, and I know I can do this. I can finish, and finish strong.
There is no Finish Line in parenthood. There is no Finish Line in life - well, there's one finish line, but that's not the one I am referring to. . .I think this is a challenge I am not sure how to approach. One thing I love about racing is the huge sense of accomplishment I feel once I am done. I have set a goal - run a Half (or whatever), I have trained, I showed up on time, ran the race, and finished. It is a wonderful feeling.
Our family just completed Brain Balance. I've written about this before - it's an Achievement Center program that we enrolled our 9 year old into to try and help him with behavior and academics.
This was a 12 week, very intensive program, that was 7 days a week, at least 2x a day, of physical, visual, and academic work. It involved the whole family - which was a good thing.
I think in order to see success, with any child, it does "take a village". The family, the school, the therapists - everyone had to be on the same page of our treatment plan in order for there to be success.
There was success. Both my husband and myself, and the school, have seen tremendous growth for our 9 year old son. However, as much progress as he has made, there is still so much more to go.
This is discouraging, but reality. While the actual 12 week program is complete - we are not done, by any stretch of the imagination. Brain Balance has recommended an additional 12 week session. I'm not saying NO, but I am not ready for all of us to sign on again. We knew, prior to the end of our session, that Brain Balance was going to recommend another session (they mentioned it during the last re-evaluation). So, we had been wording the impending conclusion as such, "When THIS session is completed"; because there is a good chance that there will be more sessions.
I know that my son is relieved to be done For Now. . .we all are - it was a lot of work, and the schedule was extremely challenging. We are still following an "at-home" program that requires some work, but not at the level we were at in the program.
But how do I explain to him that we are NEVER done working towards bettering ourselves? Just because he completed the program does not mean that he is "all better". We all still have much work to do. He still needs to work on behavior and academics - he's not done with that, even though we are currently done with the program. Similarly, I am never done training, just because I finished a race. There is always another race. I have to stay in shape between events. It is continual work, and it will be for my son as well, whether or not he is in Brain Balance.
Where is the Finish Line? I think it's important to celebrate achievements along the way. When I finish a big race, I usually like to reward myself - whether with an obnoxious sugary treat, or a pedicure. We will celebrate my son's completion of THIS session of Brain Balance. He has reached this Finish Line goal. . .for now. . .
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