So, a mere couple months ago I decided to make it a personal goal to complete a half marathon before Christmas. I missed my first opportunity in late September and thought I wouldn't get another one. However, my good friend Ellen told me that there was another 1/2 marathon in October, and I immediately started training.
4 weeks later my knees and ankles ached, my toes had started to crack away from the soles of my feet, and since I had been running in the cold lately, I had a runny nose and a cough. Cool.
The next week I spent resting and mentally preparing myself to run a whopping 13.1 miles... the most I've ever done. I was super nervous, but definitely excited at the same time. The morning came, I "miraculously" (and by miraculously, I believe by the prayers sent to my Amazing God from all of my incredible friends) I woke up feeling the best I'd felt in a week with a clear mind and clear nose!!
The next thing I knew, race was off. Miles 1-5 breezed by, and then 6 and 7 came. Let's just say that I didn't train on hills, and those were some KILLER hills. By the time that the 9-10 mile came around, all of my support group had to drop off because we were running through the Air Force Base and it was limited to strictly runners. The last three miles were the hardest of my life. I had never wanted to quit so badly in my entire life. My legs were pounding, there was a sharp pain in my heels, and, well, there was some undesireable runners chaffing (so is the life of a runner.) I nearly quit running at 12 miles, but thankfully my friends Tatyana and Lindsey were there beside me, almost literally pulling me along with them. When I saw the finish line, my heart jumped. Lindsey and Tatyana linked arms with me and we finished... together... without stopping... the entire race.
That's when I remembered... my life is rough. My feet hurt and I wanna give up all the time, but God has blessed me with an incredible support group to help me battle my way through this world. They pray for me, run the race with me, cheer on the side of the road, and link their arms with me to pull me along when I don't have any strength left. Friends: I am so incredibly thankful for you. Thank you for making the past few months at my new home an incredible experience. I love you all dearly and can't imagine running my race without you.
As one of my race buddies, Lindsey Alexander, commented on this photo:
As one of my race buddies, Lindsey Alexander, commented on this photo:
Ecclesiastes 4:12 (New International Version)
12 Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
12 Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
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