Meb Keflezighi was waiting on the other side of the finish line. The guy with seven major marathon medals hanging on his wall bumped my fist and congratulated me on a race well run.

“You once told me something that changed my worldview,” I said.

A few years ago, I said, we were both on Bayshore. You noticed my Run With Meb T-shirt, said hello, and asked how I was doing. Instead of saying “great, thanks,” I told you I was only walking because I wasn’t feeling the motivation to run.

“You’re here,” you told me. “That’s the hard part.”

That’s when I realized that just showing up, even on the days you don’t want to, is a win.

Meb thanked me for sharing the story. Then he shook my hand and congratulated me on a lesson well learned.