My feet felt like two peg legs at first. I focused on taking short little steps and keeping good form. I passed a group of cheering folks (not mine) and one of them looking very intently at me – I heard her say, very intensely, like it was really important I hear it: “Good footwork!”. I can’t imagine that’s what she really said to some random stranger, but it worked for me! For the next 15 minutes or so, anytime I felt tired which was oh, about every 3 seconds, I’d think: but that stranger looked at my form and thought I had Great Footwork!! And it would give me a boost every time. Spectators, seriously: You have no idea how much your cheering means. Thank you.
I knew the run would be tough and I was right. The entire backs of my legs, my butt and hamstrings, were so, so tired. After about a mile and a half I finally lost the peg leg feeling and turned into a runner, but it was still really hard to keep going. I kept on returning to my running mantra, which is very simple: tick-tock-tick-tock-tick-tock. It keeps me focused on my turnover, which helps my speed. And more importantly as I say it I can’t also concentrate on how dang hard this thing is I’m doing.
The run is a lot more social which helps for me. They had an aid station, passed twice, with sort of enthusiastic and cheering volunteers. There other runners to see, and cheer. I also had saved a treat for the run: a double-shot espresso flavored guu. Yuuuummm. When it got really tough I just sipped off my guu and told myself, pretend you’re just out on a lovely Sunday morning run, with some delightful coffee at hand. Not tired! Refreshed! Perky! Energetic! Glad To Be Out Here! On This Sunday Morning! Worked for a while anyways. Then it was back to tick-tock-tick-tock-tick-tock.
I also kept having all this emotion swell up in me, over and over, as I turned around at the halfway point, and started heading back. It just seemed so huge. The race, and what I had accomplished. My fitness level. That I was doing this thing. That I had a big cheering crew waiting for me. That over 100 donors had supported me. That we had raised over $5,000 together. It all seemed just so much. The emotion just kept rising, and rising. Ever try to cry when you are breathing hard? I did. I found it doesn’t work so well. Each time the emotion would swell, and I would sorta cry, sorta pant, and then my throat would get all tight and I’d sound like a wheezing asthmatic. One that you want to take to the hospital, stat. Finally, I had to just get a grip. Enough with the feelings. You gotta run right now, woman!
The run was just hard. I remember seeing some grass on the side and looking longingly at it, and thinking how good it would feel to lay down, just for a moment. Or for the rest of the race.
But I just kept going. Tick-tock-tick-tock. Finally the road part of the race was over. We pulled into the park for the final 1.4 mile loop around the lake. The woman in front of me had a mass of people appear, cheering her on by name. Gee, I thought, I wish my folks would see me running right now.
Rounded the corner to the nature trail, and there they all were, cheering, clapping, smiling. Noa ran up and handed me a guu packet (empty I might add). I was so delighted to see them! I gave a little leap as I passed them, that’s what boost they gave me.
Then it was back to tick-tock-tick-tock-tick-tock.
I had fun keeping my pace up and passing a few people. Then it was back to the running.
The last stretch was the worst. I was so, so tired, and the announcer was just around the corner. The next corner. Must be right around this bend. I guess in hindsight that the water carried the sound far across the lake, so I felt like I was chasing the finish line forever. Finally, I told myself, knock it off. This race is about to be over. Everything you’ve worked so hard to train for, this is it. Right here. Pay attention. Quit focusing on the end. Pay Attention. And of course, as soon as that worked and I got my groove on, I turned the corner, and there it was. The finish.
Run time: 57 minutes
I picked up my pace as much as I could, and raced through the chute. I could hear in the foggy distance people shouting my name.
Over.
Happy.
So Proud.
Done.
Total Time: 3 hours, 8 minutes
