Some of my friends teamed up with Cincinnati Children's Hospital to train for a 5k with a group of kids who all have different disabilities. This morning was their 5k at Sawyer Point and I decided to go watch and cheer on my friends and the kids that they coached this season. What I witnessed was nothing short of amazing. The kids ranged in ages and ability levels, but they all crossed the finish line strong. Even those, who clearly had difficulties running/walking, were determined to push themselves across that finish line running as hard as they physically could. Every child that crossed the finish line brought a tear to my eye and as I walked away I realized that I know nothing about mental toughness.
These kids have struggles with daily life. They experience real pain. While I might need to do some stretches for my IT band, or while my calves hurt one day on a long run, these children deal with pain related to their disabilities on a daily basis. They have to be mentally tough to stay strong in the face of adversity, knowing that they are different from other kids their age. Many of them have to work hard for the things that come natural to you or I. Many of them would like to be able to do the exact same things that we can do at our ability level, even though we look down on ourselves. I'm not here to say we should feel sorry for them. I'm here to say let's admire them. Let's admire their strength to keep pushing even when things are hard. Let's admire their mental toughness to look at a disability and say "you don't control me." Let's admire their desire to cross that finish line running with all their might. Let's admire their ability to believe in themselves.
I don't know these children. I've never met any of them. But I wish every person who has ever told me they "can't run" could have watched them run their hearts out this morning.
Thank you kids for teaching me what mental toughness really means.
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