Today, my true strength was tested. I had a good night sleep, my belly was full, I was hydrated, my back was feeling better, had my running outfit picked out :), shoes were primed, and I was ready to RUN! As I stepped up to the start line, I KNEW it was going to be a great run. I just knew it. The first 9 miles were perfect. I felt amazing. I was running ahead of my planned pace and my family was there to cheer me on. Then, something happened. Something I was NOT prepared for. A sharp shooting pain straight through the front of my foot as if I stepped on a hot nail. It was unbearable. It stopped me dead in my tracks and for the first time ever, I wanted to quit. I called my husband, who was meeting me at different points on the trail, and told him I could go no further. Something was wrong with my foot. He said ok, he was waiting for me at mile 12 and would take me to the finish line. I pressed forward. Wobbling at best but I pressed forward. I saw him and my girls in the distance and burst into tears. It wasnt the pain that was making me cry. It was the fact that for the first time ever, I was going to DNF a race. I was angry. I was sad. I was upset. I was full of emotion and just didnt know what to do. I looked at my husband and knew what he was going to say, I told him Id meet him at the next trail head point. I kissed my girls and pressed forward. Then, as if I wasnt in enough pain, I hit mile 14 and my entire body cramped. I sat there thinking, what in the world was happening to me? why am I in so much pain. what happened from the start of the race until now?? At this point, I called my husband and told him I was done. I could go no further. He said he was waiting for me at the next water station. I said OK and I pressed forward. As I approached mile 15, I didnt see my husband. I was wondering where he went. There was the water station but there was no Tommie. I called him and (at the time probably sounding very angry) asked him where he was. Then he said something I knew he would say, Im at mile 17 at the next water station. You can do this. At this point, I was laying in the gravel, looking up at the sky and I heard a womens voice. She asked if she could take me to the finish line. I kindly declined and I pressed forward. I walked the next 2 miles but that was ok. My legs were moving and I was alive. Those next 2 miles felt like 20. Finally, I reached mile 17 and there was my family. Again, tears streaming down my cheeks I looked at my husband, I kissed my girls, and I told them I would see them at the finish line. I saw the grin on his face and he knew if he had gone to mile 15, I would have quit so he went to 17 instead KNOWING I wouldnt throw in the towel at that point. He was right. From that point on, my mind pulled me through the race. I couldnt feel my legs let alone my foot and knowing he believed in me so much gave me the push I needed to finish the race. I dont remember much of the last 3 miles other than I wanted to be DONE and FINALLY after what felt like eternity, I saw my family and the finish line. I pressed forward. NOT because my body wanted me to but because my heart told me to! Today, I am thankful. I didnt run my best race but I didnt quit either. I gave it my all and thats what matters.
Posted on: Sun, 31 Aug 2014 20:13:33 +0000
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