I've been rereading a series of books I loved as a teenager. I found a few online at a used bookstore. 

They're the old Indiana Jones novels by Rob MacGregor. These books are actually prequels, taking place before Indiana Jones became the famous archaeologist from the movies. In these stories, he's still a graduate student trying to figure things out. He's not even an archaeology major yet!

When I was younger, Indiana Jones seemed fearless. He traveled the world, explored ancient ruins, got into trouble, escaped impossible situations, and somehow always found a way through. Reading the books now, I notice something I completely missed.

He's not fearless. He's inexperienced. He's naive. 

He jumps into situations without fully understanding what he's getting into. He makes mistakes. He trusts the wrong people. He often finds himself in over his head. What struck me is how much of his success comes from figuring things out as he goes. As a teenager, I think I assumed successful people knew exactly what they were doing. Now I'm not so sure. 

Most of the people I admire aren't operating with complete certainty. They're learning in real time. They sign up for a marathon before they know if they can finish it. They start a business without guarantees. They have difficult conversations without knowing how they'll end. They take the next step before they have everything figured out.

Maybe that's what I missed when I first read these books. I saw Indiana Jones as someone who always had the answers. Now I see someone who was willing to move forward without them. Maybe that's a better lesson anyway.

The books didn't change. I did.

Best wishes on chasing your running goals!