It doesn’t happen all at once … You become. It takes a long time.

– Margery Williams

Patience does not come easily to me. I like to work in a flurry of activity and a flood of energy and then collapse into absolute lethargy after. I am not slow and steady by nature. One step at a time is a concept that I intellectually understand, but one that does not appeal to me instinctively.

Of all the things that I have learned from John (best friend and husband), perhaps patience and persistence are the most significant. He is a methodical and steady person who does nothing at the last minute and prefers many small steps in a span of time to one strong sprint at the finish.

John was the one who dragged us both into running. I can see how it’s precisely his sort of thing. I was a sprinter as a teenager whose longest distance was the 400m. John has since shown me that his way to approaching the world lets me experience the beauty of a half-marathon (and I’ve taught him about the fun of intervals).

Running has taught me patience. There are no short-cuts. No one can do it for you. The only person out there with you is yourself. You get further by starting slower and finishing faster. Pace is important and prevents disaster and the accompanying demoralizing experience. A little every day means more than a lot once a week. You build gradually and accomplish more slowly.

Consistency matters.

vincit qui patitur – (he conquers who endures)

– Persius