Turning My Life Around: Running, Quitting Smoking, and Competing Against Myself
For nearly six years, I’ve been running. From April 2021 to May 2024, I maintained a fairly consistent running routine. During 2021 and 2022, I even won awards in several races. But alongside my passion for running, there’s been another constant in my life – smoking. I’ve been smoking for the last 15 years, and while I’ve managed to quit multiple times, the longest stretch was only 40 days. Each time I relapsed, I ended up smoking more than before. Now, I’ve made a decision: I want to quit smoking for good, and I want to do it this time with the support of running.
It’s not just about quitting smoking, though. My goal now is to get back into running, rediscover the joy it brings, and become successful in the sport. But what does success mean for me? It’s simple – success is about being better than I was yesterday. It’s not about competing with others, but about competing with myself. As Kareem Abdul-Jabbar once said, “The only competition that matters is the one with yourself.”
The Struggle With Smoking
Smoking has been a part of my life for so long, and it’s something I’ve tried to quit over and over again. Every time I’d quit, it seemed like I was fighting a never-ending battle. I’d do well for a while, but then the cravings would return, and before I knew it, I was back to square one. The frustrating part? Each time I relapsed, I found myself smoking even more than before. It became a vicious cycle that seemed impossible to break.
But running has always been there for me. When I first started, I felt a spark – a glimmer of hope that things could change. As Nelson Mandela said, “It always seems impossible until it’s done.” Running gave me a sense of freedom and accomplishment that I’d never experienced before. It was my escape, my therapy, and the one place where I felt like I could be myself without judgment.
A New Beginning: Quitting Smoking For Good
Now, I’m at a turning point. I’m determined to quit smoking for good, and I know this will be the hardest challenge I’ve faced so far. But I’m not giving up. I’ve realized that running is my secret weapon. It’s more than just a way to get fit – it’s a way to reclaim my life, my health, and my future. Every run I complete will remind me that I’m capable of overcoming anything. As I move forward, I remind myself of a quote I heard: “The difference between who you are and who you want to be is what you do.”
This time, quitting smoking isn’t just about stopping; it’s about running towards a better life, and I know that with every step, I’m taking control.
The Joy of Running: Competing with Myself
My goal with running isn’t to race against others; it’s to race against the version of myself I was yesterday. Every step I take, every mile I run, is a victory. Robert Collier once said, “Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out.” It’s about making progress, not about achieving perfection. Success isn’t about finishing first in a race – it’s about being better than I was the day before.
In 2021 and 2022, I had some incredible moments in races, earning awards and proving to myself that I could succeed. But the true success for me is not in the medals or the accolades – it’s in the small, daily improvements. It’s about consistency, even on the hard days. As Muhammad Ali wisely said, “Don’t count the days, make the days count.” This is my mindset as I push forward in my running journey.
Every Day is a Step Toward a Better Me
I’m not racing against anyone else. I’m racing against the person I used to be, the person who struggled with smoking, the person who doubted whether I could truly change. But each day, I’m proving that I can. Every day that I run, every day that I resist the urge to smoke, I’m one step closer to my goal.
Success is measured by progress, not perfection. As Lao Tzu put it, “The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.” It’s about showing up every day, pushing through the hard moments, and knowing that every effort counts. It’s about finding joy in the process, not just the outcome.
A Promise to Myself
This is my promise: I will quit smoking for good, and I will do it by running toward a healthier future. I will compete only with myself, and every day I will strive to be better than the day before. The road will be tough, but I know that with every step, I’m moving closer to the person I want to become.
So, here I am, ready to take the next step. Ready to quit smoking, ready to run, and ready to succeed. As Winston Churchill once said, “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts.” The best part? I know that success isn’t just about where I finish – it’s about the journey itself.
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