With only 400 metres left to run and feeling really tired I heard a voice in my head!

I normally exercise on an elliptical trainer. It is easy to get started, it is quick, and I don't need to think about the weather outside or anything. But, I do enjoy a run outdoors as well, and today I got one. It wasn't entirely planned. The kids had lots of energy, so I decided to take them on a bicycle trip. In such situations, they use their bicycles, and I run behind them. The youngest kid is 5, and is quite slow, so normally, I have been running faster than the "weakest link on the chain." But, today, the weakest link was way faster, and I had to run faster.

The total distance of today's trip was 3,5km, and normally we would do the trip in 23-24 minutes. Today, however, we finished in less than 19 minutes. So, when we only had 400 meters left (and the final 400 meters are upwards), I really felt like giving up. This is a temptation not only experience by runners but whenever we do things that are hard and tough, we are often tempted to give up just a little bit before reaching the goal.

So, while running, with 400 meters left, I felt like stopping... I felt like it was just too much.

I felt like this or something similar with only a few hundred meters left..

And that is when I heard a voice in my head... or something like that!

And yes, that is when I heard a voice in my head. It wasn't the voice of God, nor some evil spirit flying around. Instead, it was the words of @normie.fitness, one of the best bloggers around when it comes to exercising! In one of his most recent posts, he wrote about exactly this phenomenon, and how the hardest processes in training are the start and the last few hundred meters of the distance.

So, feeling inspired by his words, and also biting my teeth together, I decided to give it all and make it all the way until the end. And guess what... I managed!

The feeling of not being alone...

When you face struggles such as the one I had today, the feeling of not being alone is so important. People with mental problems often feel like they are alone in the world facing their struggles. But, that isn't true. That is just a way for the problem to increase its size and to make it seem impossible to defeat. But, when you understand and notice that you are not alone, that will actually give you strength.

And if you actually have people surrounding you, that will support you and cheer for you, that will make it even easier.

We might be in a digital world in which many of our relationships are digital. But, it is easier than ever before to connect with people like you, facing the same problems, fighting the same battles, and going through the same things that you do!

So, the next time you feel like giving up just before the finish line, listen to the voice in your head (which hopefully will be my voice or someone else saying something smart), and finish your race! :)