My alarm goes off at 6:15 am, and I roll out of bed at 6:20. I am out the door by 6:30 and I'm off on another 4 mile run. 4 miles down, 22.2 to go.

I have been peppered with questions since I announced that I would be running a marathon. First and foremost, why? Why go through all that effort? Am I crazy? People just cannot seem to believe that a 20-something college student with a full course load and several extracurriculars has the time and the energy to train for a marathon.

For as long as I can remember, I have always put the most pressure on myself to do my best, more than anyone. You know those kids that get upset over missing just a few questions on a test? That was me (and still is). College opened up a whole different world for me, but one that definitely included large amounts of stress pretty much non-stop. That is when my emotional strength began to break down, and I suddenly found myself extremely depressed.

In my darkest moments, I struggle to be able to remind myself of the good traits about myself. I call friends, crying, for support, but sometimes, even their words cannot help me forget about the thoughts in my mind: the constant berating and scolding, pushing myself to be the best version of myself I could be.

That is when I got the idea that I would start running and eventually race. It was something that was completely in my own control, which was important at a time when I felt like I had no control. I became determined to run the race and give it my all just to prove to myself that I was just as strong and capable as I once believed I was. When I run, I finally get a moment of peace from my hectic thoughts, my constant worries, and everything in between. I imagine myself crossing that finish line one day and celebrating, the thought sometimes bringing tears to my eyes.

That is what life is about, you know; crossing the finish line, but your own personal finish lines. They don't have to be anything monumental, like running a marathon. They can be small things, like overcoming your anxiety to try and make friends or pushing yourself to do things out of your comfort zone. We all have finish lines we would like to cross tomorrow or some day in the future, and being able to push yourself to reach it just makes it that much more obvious that you are so much stronger than you once thought you were.

So why am I running? I am running for me to prove to myself that I am strong and to remind myself that stress and my depression cannot consume me. I am my own champion as well as my own worst critic. I focus on all of my flaws, but I should be focusing on my strengths. There are always things to improve on, but you should celebrate yourself more often to remind you that your flaws do not define you.

I am no Hussein Bolt, and I can tell you right now I will not finish my marathon in any time worthy of the Olympic Trials, but I can tell you that I have not been so determined in my life to accomplish anything. Any obstacle that gets in my way I face head-on and I will not let it stop me from reaching my goals.

I encourage you to pick up a new hobby or try something out, even if it is something you do not think you will be very good at. You never know how far it will take you, and you will be surprised at how much you discover about yourself along the way.