I had made a personal goal for myself of 4 hours. I really wasn't sure...but I knew that it had taken me 3 hours to do the 10 mile walk during my training. But really wasn't sure what to expect with so many people and a different route around the city!
I have to say that I had the best time!!! I had one of my very dear friends with me the entire 13.1 miles! We would check on each other every so often to make sure we were doing ok. We laughed and talked just about the entire way! We jogged and walked at different intervals. We NEVER QUIT!!!!
We enjoyed the people all around town holding signs, ringing pots and pans, cheering for everyone! Our favorite was an older couple standing out in their yard with a sign that said "Lamest parade ever!" But then they cheered for everyone going by! We met a lady who was standing at the edge of her driveway with a box of tissues and gave anyone that needed a tissue one to blow their nose. Then she had a bucket to toss them in. This brave lady was a cancer survivor and said that she hoped to be doing something like this once day! Touched my heart and caused me to toughen up and do a mile for her!
We also enjoyed different sightings of our families along the routes cheering and ringing cow bells and giving quick hugs to strengthen our spirits!
One thing that I saw that really hit home for me was that I was so very thankful for my running buddy Angela! We came up on a lady near the finish and she was crying a bit. We told her that she had it! That she was going go finish! She was alone and no one to encourage her along the race route! When you do something like this, it is very mentally taxing if you don't have someone cheering you every step of the way! You begin to fight the rough thoughts in your mind, you hear the "Oh you can't do this! and the What were you thinking? Make sure you have someone with you that will encourage you and cheer for you and you do the same for them! Yes, the lady did finish but I am sure that it was a huge struggle to do that alone!
We set out to do something together and we did it! We never left each other! We cheered for each other and was so blessed to have marathon runners coming up behind us cheering us on and telling us "You got this ladies!" "You are going to make it!" Guess what we did!!! We did 13.1 miles in 3:37:18 seconds! Was it the fastest time in the race....oh no, not by any means! But when you look at the obstacles and health issues that we have overcome to get to this point....it was like a Gold Medal performance for us! And it was!!!
God is so very good and blessed me beyond all measure to be able to do that race!!! I'm looking forward to doing other races...and yes I have a 5K here in a few hours. I am looking forward to a fun 3 miles!!! Seems like a piece of cake after 13!!!
Don't ever be afraid to try something new! You just never know...YOU MIGHT LIKE IT!!!
Keep on Keeping on!!!!!
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