“Sometimes you are fighting to be the best, other days you are fighting to be the best of the rest, and that’s OK.” “I never surrendered, I never gave up on myself, and I just finished the Berlin Marathon 13 minutes faster than I ran in 2019. Sometimes you see progress in different ways and today was absolutely a step forward for me.” - From the @rtdnews I fell short of the goal I set for myself yesterday at the @berlinmarathon, but it’s in these races where the most growth happens. I now have a golden opportunity to make myself better... and you better believe I will. I’m still digesting the race and although I went in totally healthy, I was feeling a little off once the race got started. I had some stomach issues and had to slow down because of a stomach cramp/side stitch, but I never gave up on myself. I knew I was going to find a way through. When races are going well, it’s exciting to stay engaged. It almost feels easier to keep fighting because you are getting one step closer to your goal. It’s when races take a turn that another type of fight comes out. It’s a hard fight though, because you can’t help but question is it even worth it anymore. It’s always worth it. Fighting to be your best is always worth it. When I crossed the finish line, regardless of what the clock said, I knew I never surrendered. I knew how hard that was race for me, but I always found a way to take another step forward. After my side stitch, I got it together enough to pass 6 women in the last few miles. That was a hard rally. But remember, it always gets harder right before you level up. Photo by: @ryogokita