I've run marathons.
 When I first decided to run my first marathon, the things I heard almost scared me off.
 "It so painful.
Get ready for massive pain," one runner told me.
 Another remarked as he looked me over, "You are not ready for this.
Probably should have done it when you were younger.
" Â "You won't be able to walk for days.
You'll be too stiff because you're not ready.
" Â "You will hit the wall about the 20th mile and quit.
" Â Okaaaaay then.
But I've never been one who listens to the naysayers or the doomsday people.
So what did I know? Â I trained for about eight weeks, following a "marathon training plan" and felt ready enough.
The day dawned and as I stood near the back of the pack on that rainy day, I told myself I could do this.
 Running a marathon is a mental and a physical thing.
It is also a "heart-challenge".
It tested my belief in myself, my feelings about my strength and stamina.
And it was a direct exercise for my perseverance and endurance "muscles.
" Â When I got a cramp in my calf at mile 12, I walked/ran on-and-off for six miles until I could full out run again.
You, see, I wasn't in this to set speed records or to "break" a 3-hour or 4-hour prediction.
I ran this race to finish.
Finish period.
 My endurance as I plowed through pouring rain at times was sorely tested.
My mantra of "I can do this.
I can do this" propelled me forward, but I never thought of quitting because I knew that if I persevere, the heart-rewards were worth it to me.
 All throughout our lives, we are given opportunities to develop and strengthen our endurance and perseverance muscles.
It might be in the light-lifting incidents of disappointments or frustrations.
 Or you might be challenged by huge life-altering situations- a death in your family, an addiction of a loved one, or a diagnosis of a debilitating illness.
 This is when you reach deep into your heart and soul and bring up your friends Perseverance and Endurance, who will be with you every step of the way.
 Sometimes we don't know that P & E are there, surrounding us, cocooning our hurts, until we get through the tough stuff.
But looking back, there are recognizable milestones along the way that have "P & E" written all over them.
 My husband died when our boys were little, and P & E played a huge part in my survival during this time.
Maybe it was just the help I needed getting out of bed in the morning, putting one foot in front of the other to get through the day.
I know P & E got a lot of exercise then, growing stronger and stronger each day.
 You have probably experienced this too.
Many of us don't thank the P & E parts of our hearts very much.
We often take them for granted.
And that's okay, they don't mind.
 But one thing we CAN do for them is to exercise them to keep them strong and fit.
Set goals that will test you and make you stronger.
Like maybe decide to run a marathon.
 When I first decided to run my first marathon, the things I heard almost scared me off.
 "It so painful.
Get ready for massive pain," one runner told me.
 Another remarked as he looked me over, "You are not ready for this.
Probably should have done it when you were younger.
" Â "You won't be able to walk for days.
You'll be too stiff because you're not ready.
" Â "You will hit the wall about the 20th mile and quit.
" Â Okaaaaay then.
But I've never been one who listens to the naysayers or the doomsday people.
So what did I know? Â I trained for about eight weeks, following a "marathon training plan" and felt ready enough.
The day dawned and as I stood near the back of the pack on that rainy day, I told myself I could do this.
 Running a marathon is a mental and a physical thing.
It is also a "heart-challenge".
It tested my belief in myself, my feelings about my strength and stamina.
And it was a direct exercise for my perseverance and endurance "muscles.
" Â When I got a cramp in my calf at mile 12, I walked/ran on-and-off for six miles until I could full out run again.
You, see, I wasn't in this to set speed records or to "break" a 3-hour or 4-hour prediction.
I ran this race to finish.
Finish period.
 My endurance as I plowed through pouring rain at times was sorely tested.
My mantra of "I can do this.
I can do this" propelled me forward, but I never thought of quitting because I knew that if I persevere, the heart-rewards were worth it to me.
 All throughout our lives, we are given opportunities to develop and strengthen our endurance and perseverance muscles.
It might be in the light-lifting incidents of disappointments or frustrations.
 Or you might be challenged by huge life-altering situations- a death in your family, an addiction of a loved one, or a diagnosis of a debilitating illness.
 This is when you reach deep into your heart and soul and bring up your friends Perseverance and Endurance, who will be with you every step of the way.
 Sometimes we don't know that P & E are there, surrounding us, cocooning our hurts, until we get through the tough stuff.
But looking back, there are recognizable milestones along the way that have "P & E" written all over them.
 My husband died when our boys were little, and P & E played a huge part in my survival during this time.
Maybe it was just the help I needed getting out of bed in the morning, putting one foot in front of the other to get through the day.
I know P & E got a lot of exercise then, growing stronger and stronger each day.
 You have probably experienced this too.
Many of us don't thank the P & E parts of our hearts very much.
We often take them for granted.
And that's okay, they don't mind.
 But one thing we CAN do for them is to exercise them to keep them strong and fit.
Set goals that will test you and make you stronger.
Like maybe decide to run a marathon.
Source...