On May 30, I am attempting my first 100K race (62 miles) in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada in under 14 hours. I do not know exactly what to expect as I have never run this far before. However, I decided some time last year that I was going to do this…

In Andy Andrews’ book The Traveler’s Gift, David Ponder, the main character, is having a conversation with Christopher Columbus who is on his quest to “find” the New World. Columbus has been traveling for 64 days with no land in sight, yet his passion and belief that he will soon find the New World is as strong as the day he started. The men on his crew are getting restless and worried, and as Columbus tells his crewman, “Our only course is forward!” his crewman asks, “Is this realistic, Capitan? Will we find land?”

As Columbus puts his arm around the man’s shoulders he replies, “No – but then nothing great was every accomplished by a realistic person! We will find land! Yes! Yes! But that will be the least of your discoveries. You will find a heart for success that you did not know existed.”

When David asked Columbus what he meant by a “heart for success,” Columbus replies:

“Most people fail at whatever they attempt because of an undecided heart. Should I? Should I not? Go forward? Go back? Success requires the emotional balance of a committed heart. When confronted with a challenge, the committed heart will search for a solution. The undecided heart searches for an escape.”

I have trained…I have run two 50Ks and a 50-mile race in the past 6 months. That, however, is no guarantee that I can run 62 miles. However, I am confident that I will succeed. Like Columbus, my course has been charted. My destiny is assured. I have a decided heart.