The finish line is that goal, the light at the end of the tunnel. It is all consuming. The only thing that matters.

But don't forget the steps, the people, and the time that are needed to arrive at the start alive and in once piece.

You're long past the point of feeling warm. It's time to get out of the water and head home to a warm dinner and sleep like everyone else. The only other person left is the lifeguard, and even she is ready to go.

You turn around and look at the clock; it is time to go. You put your head down and push off for another set.

At 5:00am, when it's dark and cold and the rest of the world is still asleep, you start to question what the hell you are doing. There is no clear cut path to an end, no right and wrong steps to get there. Only a blind faith that if you do everything right, and get very lucky, it somehow, might turn out right in the end.

The thing is, and I don't think you know this yet, but you've already made it. You're living the dream, doing something you love. How far you go from here doesn't matter, as long as you are moving forward. You could fail now, or keep pushing on, but in the end you'll realize, in a day, a month, a year down the road, that you did all you could. You gave it a shot, and left nothing up to chance.

Regardless of where it ends, you'll know that was all you could do. And in the end that's all you can ask for, the chance to chase a dream, and to learn just a little bit more about yourself.

Today was a good day.