Shannon and me after the 1/2 marathon!!
Well, it is finished. On a cold Sunday morning in March, I loaded a crowded bus to shuttle over to the starting line with my best friend Shannon by my side. The adrenaline was pulsing, but the nerves were too. So...of course I popped my favorite drug of choice....IMMODIUM!!!
When we got there, we grabbed a banana and some trail mix for the road and started stretching. I was way nervous!!! I watched as the sun came over the buildings of Dallas and saw that it was going to be a glorious day. As the corralls were started, we were left waiting and waiting as we were the last group to go out. We were with the Transformation group, and Bill Phillips was shooting footage for his T.V. show and wanted us all coming out together. I looked around and was amazed at all the wonderful people I would be running this race with! Champions in life and in their transformations. People who were there "Being the Change" to the world around them. It was very inspiring!
The plan from Bill Phillips was to run the first mile in a group with Transformation, so they could get footage, then everyone was let loose to run their own races. My little group consisted of Me, Shannon, Josie, and Katrina. We all had decided way before racing day that our goal was to finish the race and make some memories along the way. And that is just what we did.
Our first stop was the first set of port o' potties that had lines out the kazoo. (Amazing how the nerves hit you....) So....we trucked on over to the McDonald's where there was NO line. Of course, I have pictures of that. :) Little did I know, these girls would have to pee at just about EVERY port o' potty they came across. Amazing.....
Anyways, off we would go again. Something I found funny was all the clothing that riddled the grass along the route. People were shedding clothing as they warmed up on their run. I wondered if some would have any clothing on there was soooo much on the grass for the first 5 miles or so!
By around mile marker 5, we decided it was time to start documenting this run. We stopped at every mile marker through mile 9 I think, to take a group picture. They are hilarious to look back upon now and I am so glad that we did it. By the way, the time shown was not our actual time, but the time started by the first corral. Remember, we were the LAST corral so our time started when we crossed the start line.
At the half way point, the little cheerleaders were yelling that we were half way. It just so happened it was also a watering hole, so I pulled out my phone and called Dan. He wanted to be there, but had just returned from Austin and the state bball tourney. Anyways, as I called him the emotions began to rise. I did not understand the emotions. I think it was the sense of accomplishment that I could almost taste. Anyways, I told him I really just needed to hear his voice. He didn't let me down. He told me the half way point was huge and we were going to be so happy when we crossed that finish line. He was ready to drive up if I needed him. That was all I needed to hear. He doesn't know how much his words of encouragement helped me motor on to the end. It was hard to explain, but I did my best when I got home. *evil grin*
At mile 9, my bestie hit a wall. I don't mean litterally, but figuatively. She was ready to throw in the towel and say forget the whole thing. Her shins were giving her fits and at mile 6 she had tripped and rolled her ankle and hurt her foot. That she hopped back up at mile 6 and kept going, amazed me. Anyways, I didn't even want to begin thinking of all the things that were hurting on me, so I asked her if we walked to a certain point then tried to run again if she thought she could. Of course, she said she would try it. Once we got to the point to start running again, she still thought she couldn't go on. I told her we were finishing this dang thing together come Hedes or High water!!! She kept wanting me to leave her behind. She was really feeling rough. Before we knew it though, we had hit the 11 mile marker and caught back up with our friend Josie. Katrina was way behind us. Anyways, we fell into a rythym of walking for a few minutes then running for a few minutes. Each time, Josie and I would run way ahead of Shannon who was doing everything she could to keep moving forward. At this point, we were all starting to feel really gimpy. It never crossed my mind to quit. Ever. But I was in pain and alot of it. My hips, my knees, my feet....I even had a headache. But I refused to focus on any of it. I just focused on finishing. Period.
Well, we finally passed mile marker 12 and started hearing people that had already finished the race telling us we were almost there. At this point, my friend Shannon shouted, "Who the heck moved mile marker 13??????" LOL! We all died laughing at that and just kept on trucking. Finally, we rounded the turn and saw the finish line about 200 yards away. I never felt so excited to see the end of anything in my whole life. So, Josie and I took off to the finish line with Shannon right beside me. I was pumped and running on the adrenaline of the Transformation team shouting for us to bring it home. Just as I was about 4 steps from the finish line, I turned to look at Shannon to tell her we did it, and she wasn't there! I looked over my shoulder and she was still about 150 yards back, limping and walking. I could tell she was crying. He shoulders were slumped forward and she was just hobbling one foot infront of the other.
So, I did what any friend would do. I turned around before I crossed the finish line, and I went back to get her. I grabbed her hand and as the tears began to flow freely, I told her she had it in her to finish this thing strong. And that is just what we did. We finished strong.
We weaved around those walking past the finish line and we crossed it running. Together. Then, the real tears came. Tears for accomplishing something I never dreamed I would ever be able to do. Tears for my friend, who was hurting so badly, but finished it strong anyways. Tears for my husband, who I was missing so badly. Tears that my mom couldn't be there....one of my number one fans. Tears, tears, and more tears. It was uncontrollable. I haven't cried that hard in a long, long time. But you know what? I was happy. I was victorious and I finished the race.
That is how I want to finish my life. I want to finish strong. I want to run the race and fight the good fight. I want the Lord to look at me one day as my mom and dad look on and say, "Well done thou good and faithful servant." I know there are somedays I fail at being that. But I think if I can just keep motoring forward and if I can encourage just one person each day, I pray I will reach that goal.
Was it hard? Yes. Was it worth it? Every step. Will I ever run another one? At this point I'm going to say heck no!
I am still crippled (my knee has always given me issues), and I am going to have to be creative with working out this week. But know this, I am glad that I did it. I am glad that I finished strong with my friend Shannon by my side.
Thank you Lord, for bringing me through!!
