Would you rather be wrong about thinking you can’t run 29 marathons in a year, or be right and never even try?
Let’s talk about how just because you think you can’t do something doesn’t mean it’s true.
Adventures have given me opportunities I never thought possible, to share my story, connect with people across the country, and raise awareness for sexual assault survivors. Along the way, I’ve had the privilege of inspiring others to take on their own challenges. Yet, time and time again, I’ve heard the same doubts: “I could never do what you’re doing,” “I’m not strong enough,” or “I wouldn’t even know where to start.”
It reminds me of a moment in college that has stuck with me for years. A professor once asked us to define hell. We all gave the expected answers—”fire,” “brimstone,” “suffering.” He threw our answers to the ground and said, “No. Hell is lying on your deathbed and seeing what your life could have been.”
That hit me hard.
What if, at the end of our lives, we look back and realize we let fear stop us from truly living? From doing good, taking risks, or pushing beyond the limits we placed on ourselves?
Mary Oliver put it best:
“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”
For me, I had every reason to believe I couldn’t run 29 marathons in a year. I was depressed, couldn’t run a mile, and had two kids under the age of 2. But I had to ask myself—am I going to live with that version of my life, or am I going to push beyond it and see what I’m really capable of?
Now, I’m one marathon away from completing my goal of running 29 marathons in a year, raising over $29K for survivors of sexual assault. But the real victory? It’s not the miles. It’s the fact that I dared to try, even when I had every reason not to.
It’s easy to tell yourself, “I could never do that.” But when I ask, “Oh, you’ve tried?” The answer is always no. Not one person who says they can’t has actually tried. We think we know our limits, but often it’s fear talking, not truth.
“Hell is lying on your deathbed and seeing what your life could have been.”
I refuse to live that life. I want to live now. Do good, be good, take challenges, and go beyond what I think is possible. I want to look back and see that I tried, that I wasn’t afraid to fail.
And you can too. Maybe it’s not running a marathon, but whatever “I could never” is in your life—maybe you’re wrong. Maybe the first step is simply daring to try.
What’s holding you back? What would happen if you took the first step towards discovering your own possibilities?
Because trust me, once you do, you’ll realize you are stronger than you ever imagined.
