26.2 Essential Stories to the Unstoppable You

By Joseph Stasey

In 26.2 Essential Stories to the Unstoppable You Joseph Stasey reveals his personal journey of self-discovery from training to complete his first marathon to two years later running three marathons in 30 days as he qualified to run the Boston Marathon. Throughout training and running his first marathon Joe had no idea it would have such a positive impact on his life.
In gratitude Joe shares insights with you of real-life stories and his all time favorite quotations that he has accumulated over decades to help you:
•Understand who you are and bring out the best in yourself and others,
•Focus on what is important to you and your loved ones,
•Adopt a get-up-and-go life style as you accomplish your goals, and
•Enjoy a sense of peace and unity with yourself, others, and God.
Plan to be inspired to energize your determination to accomplish something important that you’ve put off in your life. Plan to re-invigorate your thought process as you contemplate the true meaning of each of these stories and how it applies to you right now. And, finally, plan to start your own marathon journey of self-discovery whether you lace on a pair of running shoes or just use the marathon as a metaphor for life – a long journey to be enjoyed every step of the way for life truly is a journey not a destination.
Yes, that is Joe on the cover running the New York City Marathon carrying the American flag from beginning to the end. The picture was taken in Central Park near mile 25.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Joseph Stasey
• Release date: Apr 28, 2014
• ISBN: 9781310154591

Joseph Stasey

Joseph Stasey and his wife live in Fishers, Indiana near their three children and five grandchildren. Joe is an avid runner, biker, triathlete, and backpacker and loves to travel. Joe is a master gardener and runs a small tree service company.

Book preview

Introduction: My First Marathon

When I was 34 I dreamed of running a marathon. I trained for and competed in a shorter distance, a 15-kilometer race (1/3 the length of the marathon). I finished the race at my expected pace but with knees and back so sore, I decided I would not run another 15-kilometer race and certainly would never run a marathon. I gave up my dream despite not having read a single book on distance running, nor having sought advice from any running coach, nor having consulted any sports physician. I knew I had ample evidence that the marathon was not meant for me. Thus, the first message:

Thinking

If you think you are beaten, you are.

If you think you dare not, you don't.

If you'd like to win but you think you can't,

It's almost a cinch you won't.

If you think you'll lose, you're lost,

For out of the world we find

Success begins with a fellow's will -

It's all in the state of mind.

If you think you're outclassed, you are;

You've got to think high to rise;

You've got to be sure of yourself before

You can ever win a prize.

Life's battle doesn't always go

To the stronger or faster man;

But sooner or later the man who wins,

Is the one who thinks he can. Walter D. Wintle

Nearly twenty years later I did complete a marathon at age 52, then two years later completed three marathons in thirty days. Had anyone predicted years earlier that I would not only run another 15-kilometer race but also a marathon, I would have considered him or her crazy. Here’s what happened in the interim years:

I mentioned my dream of completing a marathon to my son. When he was 27 he and his wife met a woman who encouraged them to run the Chicago Marathon. I was enormously proud when he and his wife completed the Chicago Marathon in 1996 and 1997. My wife accepted my daughter-in-law’s invitation to run the Columbus Marathon in 1998. I was there to cheer their efforts, but it wasn’t until 1999 that I actually believed I could accomplish MY dream. I began a sixteen-week training program.

Unfortunately, I didn’t realize that sixteen weeks was insufficient time for a casual runner to adapt to the stresses of running the marathon distance of 26.2 miles. I didn’t understand the difference between muscle soreness and running injury. Rest alleviates soreness as the muscles rebuild stronger. Running injuries often require professional medical help to diagnose and correct the underlying cause. When my ankle swelled, I appropriately sought medical assistance. The sports physician prescribed physical therapy to strengthen my ankle, during which time I continued training, my ankle healed, and I thought everything would be fine.

However, marathon training requires progressively longer training runs. Training runs farther than fourteen miles caused knee pain so intense I was nearly brought to tears only one mile into the following day’s run. With this second injury I foolishly decided not to seek professional help. I was not willing to invest in myself by paying for medical attention that could have rectified the problem. I viewed it from a narrow-minded point of view: I didn’t want to spend more on medical costs than I raised in contributions to help cure cancer – my main reason, I told myself, for doing the marathon.

The truth is, though I didn’t realize it then, I was afraid of how strong I really was. Aren’t we all susceptible to fear? Isn’t fear the only thing that holds us back from accomplishing wondrous deeds?

For the three weeks prior to marathon Sunday, the knee pain forced me to stop training and rest. As a result at the marathon start I had zero confidence. I knew I could run one mile and prepared myself mentally to walk the last 25.2 miles. I had raised $2,000 for charity and desperately wanted to finish so I would not disappoint my supporters. I was depressed. I lined up at the back. I completed the first mile, then another and another. I told myself (it was a lie) that my knees became as the Pink Floyd song says: Comfortably Numb.

I noticed sayings on two runners’ T-shirts that seemed directed at me. One said simply: Just shut-up and run. The other: Pain is just fear leaving the body. I alternated running and walking. I met a woman on the course who thanked all the police officers and volunteers for helping. I did likewise. Knowing that Americans love a bargain, I offered a deal that most spectators could not resist: Free high fives. The distractions masked my knee pain – could it be I was eliminating negative self-talk and fear was leaving my body?

Mentally I was at a low point after a struggle to reach the top of a hill at mile 16. I was exhausted and thanked God I only had 9 more miles to go. Who should come to my rescue when my thinking was so muddled? The United States Marines were at the next water stop offering sports gels to all participants. I sucked down three – not a real smart move. It wasn’t until I reached mile 17 that I realized my computational error – I still had 9 more miles to go!

I continued alternating running and walking until mile 24 when I decided to run the last 2.2 miles. At mile 25 I don’t know why, but I quickened my pace and decided not to let anyone on the course pass me to the finish. Within a few hundred yards of the finish line (up hill and into the wind, of course), a man started to pass on the right. I thought to myself: Oh no! At that very moment my son (who had finished the marathon 40 minutes earlier) came running from the left and barked in my ear: Dad, are you a man or are you a wuss who will let this guy pass you? I didn’t question the sanity of his question, dug down deeper into what I didn’t know I had, and sprinted to the finish alongside my son. My last mile was faster than any of the previous 25! I finished my first marathon! I celebrated doing my best Rocky move.

Although I had done just about everything wrong in training, completing the marathon became a life-changing experience! I discovered I was stronger and capable of so much more than I had ever known. My family was more supportive than I had ever realized. My son somehow read my mind and was there for me at a decisive moment helping me honor my unspoken commitment. I finally accomplished MY dream. Until then I only had a dream while I saw thousands of others LIVE my dream. I finally got off my duff, faced my fear, and ran the marathon. Since that moment everything else in life has become comparatively easier. I took a major step on the journey inward to self-discovery.

This book is not about my running exploits. It’s about sharing my journey of self-discovery with you so you can accomplish your dream. It’s about how I transformed my life from coping with illness to robust physical health, from discouragement to joy, from impatience to inner peace, from illusions to truth, from also ran to competitor, and from fear to love. I am thankful for abundance in all aspects of my life: spiritual, mental, physical, social, and financial. If in middle age I can markedly transform my life, you can transform yours, too.

The following stories and quotes, if you let them, will encourage you to take action to gain control of your life and accomplish your dreams. It’s your decision. I hope you will decide now to replace all doubts with an energetic belief in yourself.

You already know that I denied myself for nearly twenty years from all the benefits of completing the marathon. Have you given up on a dream or two? Let’s re-ignite your passion. You can accomplish your dream. Perhaps you seek a new career. Perhaps your dream is your life calling that will lead you to joy and fulfillment beyond your wildest expectations. Others have overcome incredibly difficult challenges and you can, too. Living your dream is not beyond your reach. Adopt a new way of thinking in which not attaining your goal is tantamount to denying yourself what you truly deserve.

As you read stories and quotes from some of the world’s greatest minds, you will realize you can achieve your dream. I used to say: Oh, I could never run a marathon! Why on earth did I not say to myself: If others can complete the marathon, then so can I? Now that I accomplished what I previously thought impossible, I want to share what really are not and should not be secrets. Let’s just call each of the following stories, poems, or quotes preparation for living your dream.

Take a long hard look at yourself on an essential journey – one of self-discovery. Learn to achieve an appropriate balance in life. Become the person you were meant to be and in doing so fulfill your purpose in life. Prepare for this challenge by strengthening your physical capabilities, mental stamina, faith, and courage.

Your mind conditions your body through physical exercise.

Physical exercise strengthens your courage through faith.

Practicing your faith believing in what you have not experienced conditions your spirit.

Your spirit has always been perfect and is one with God.

First, have faith that you will do whatever it takes to accomplish your dream. Second, simply start the process and you immediately gain greater physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual understanding. Others who have already accomplished your dream would likely either provide you with a plan or assist your efforts. Third, your goal deserves a total commitment; simply make the commitment. Decide to focus your mind on accomplishing your dream whatever it is, and it certainly doesn’t have to be a marathon because your life is an inward journey, not a foot race. And you need to be comfortable in your own skin. Fourth, decide to believe in yourself and consistently be yourself fulfilling your purpose on earth.

The essence of the process is to learn to be at peace with yourself and every aspect of creation, thereby freeing your focus to each required step of dream accomplishment. If you have dreamed it, you