That End of the Race Feeling

I am not a runner. I have run a few races, however. In fact, I signed up again this year for my employer’s fundraising 5K that had been scheduled for late March. I’m usually the one who shifts to a walk halfway along the course. I’ve either been that pale, non-muscular girl or, as of late, the plump older lady wearing a very long shirt over her yoga pants. But that’s just distance running. I’ve always done favorably in school, work, and pretty much life in general. But today, I am back to being that out-of-breath woman who crosses the finish line long after the race organizers have reeled in the magical tape and stowed it away for next year. Except now my lackluster finish is in school, work, life. I’m not used to this feeling.

Participation trophy?

In all reality, I do feel that I had more direction and purpose with Project B than I did with Project A. I see that new calm as evidence of learning. I challenged myself with learning a new (albeit simplified) LMS and temporarily broke away from my codependent relationship with Google Classroom. That went well.

Thanks to this project (and the late-night voice overs I now do for my work), I’ve also increased my comfort with cranking out a quick video using PowerPoint, OBS, Screencastify, or Adobe Premier Pro. That also went well.

The main struggle I faced was having to essentially contrive a project in the first place. I wish I had been given a job from an authentic client rather than bending my husband into that position. I certainly DID walk through the ADDIE process for the most part, but I felt almost like it was role play. I prefer real. So I guess next time I will forgo the whole COVID-19 thing. Yes, that.

But I still did it.

Coincidentally, I found an email in my inbox today that said I would still be receiving the race t-shirt I purchased back in February although the race had been cancelled. I smiled. I wanted that t-shirt. In fact, I decided that my instructional design Project B was my latest race. And although I did not produce at the level at which I am accustomed, I will be OK with myself. I will celebrate the fact that I actually crossed the finish line; I will claim a victory.