I can see why people ask if you're addicted.
"Smile Laura!", she kept shouting from just behind me as we gave it our
all and sprinted towards the finish line. She had told me just what to
do. "Now this is what you're going to do" she told me as we ran together
in stride, "as soon as your feet hit that field I want you to give it
your all and sprint towards the finish line. I know you've got it in you
Laura!" she said. Before I knew it, I was there, doing just what she had
told me. It was just as she said it would be. She was still cheering me
on as I made that final step across the finish line. All I could think
of was "I actually made it, it's over, I did it!
Mile 1
Miles of red, yellow, blue, white, orange and black dots stretched out
before me, each one bobbing to the rhythm of their own pace. From where
I was I couldn't even see the front of the line. I knew if I could, one
of those dots would be Ryan. With the steady sound of shoes beating on
the pavement also came the sound of heavy breathing from the hundreds of
people around me. It was as if everyone was breathing in unison. I'm taking it all in. I think something inside of me
thought, "this isn't normal, thousands of people running, together, 13.1
miles". But yet, it felt so right.
It felt good.
Mile 2
My plan was to take the first two miles slow, really slow. I wanted to
save my energy for the hills and for the last few miles knowing this
wasn't going to be easy for me. I glanced behind me a few times at the
beginning, worried I was last in line! I didn't want to be last.
I expected to run the race with a 10 minute mile. I couldn't be sure if
my Run Keeper was completely accurate while I ran, but from what I could
tell it was. My pace was around 9:21. I didn't know if I should slow
down or just keep going.
I keep going.
Mile 3
Mile 4
I pass by cars stuck at crossroads for the foreseeable future. I pass by
cows and farms and barns. I pass by people of all ages cheering me on.
Kids waving and giving high fives. Grandparents sitting in camping
chairs enjoying the view. Signs that read "Run Now Drink Later". I
smile at all of this.
This does feel right.
Mile 4
Mile 5
The hills are behind me and after my downhill decent I see Jackson Quary
Road in the distance. "Wow, I've already made it this far?" I though to
myself. I had run 12 miles of the course once while training so I
was familiar with the terrain and geography. I was proud of myself so
making it this far.
Mile 6
I see a girl just in front of me. She seems to be keeping a steady pace.
She looks nice too. I come up right behind her on the right and keep
pace with her stride. There's another thing. This girl just behind me is
cheering everyone on. Why is she so happy? Doesn't she know we are
running 13.1 grueling miles? Now I feel guilty. I'm reminded of the
words my husband prayed over me in the car before the race, asking that
the joy of the Lord would shine through me as I ran. Well I don't know
if the huffing and puffing sounds I'm making and the somewhat
disgruntled look on my face and my wrinkled brow as I run are showing
the joy of the Lord, but this girl is on. Before I know it she scoots up
to the left side of the girl I'm tailing and starts making friends with
her. Holly is her name. I overhear most of what they say and chip in
after awhile.
I just made two friends.
Mile 7
Mile 8
Okay it's hot. The sun in beating down on me. Why didn't I wear my
shorts? I think my stomach is staring to hurt. Yeah it is. My legs, oh
no, my knees, actually no my hips, yes it's the hips. Is it time for the
fruit snacks I stuffed in my back pocket this morning? Let's try that.
Mile 9
West Union. Furrow Farms. I start to fall back. My friend I was tailing
and the encouraging race coach are now a good 10 - 15 feet in front of
me. I could feel my body saying "no more, you're done here". I fall back
more. Mentally I was not looking forward to what was next, the gravel
road. In my trial run the gravel road was the worst part for me. I was
wishing for a way to avoid it but knew I couldn't so I caught up to my
friends and rounded the corner on the gravel road. Suddenly I took off.
Maybe it was the song that was playing on my playlist, I don't know. I'm
hesitant because I really didn't want to leave me friends behind. We
had been together for the last 4 miles. I'm faithful like that. But then
who am I fooling, it's not like I would really pass them... for good.
Mile 10
The gravel road is behind me and there is no sign of my friends. I
glance back a few times to check. I feel a little bad.
I press on.
Mile 11
Suddenly Holly the cheer coach is on my right. From here she talks me through the last two miles. I begin to think this girl is an angel or a
miracle. Truly. She talks me through the next little hill. She reminds
me three times to keep my arms going.
Mile 12
We chat. I ask her if she always does this and she says yes. She tells
me running has given her so much so she wants to give back to running.
She's giving back to me.
I feel so blessed.
The last mile was rough but I just kept putting one foot in front of the
other. Holly never left my side. "See those stadium lights?" she asked
me as we rounded the corner on Bennett St "those are your lights" she
said! I just smile. She's the best!
As we neared the stadium she gave me her final instructions as to what I
would do when I reached the stadium, encouraging me every step of the
way. "Why me?" I thought. "How is it that out of thousands of people
this girl picks me to cheer on to the end?
Mile 13
"One step up right here Laura" she said as she pointed to the sidewalk
that would lead me to the field where the finish line was. We keep
running. I feel the excitement building as I see all the people
cheering.
"Smile Laura" she shouts out to me as I take lead on the field. "Smile Laura!"
Running my first half marathon was the best experience. If I race again,
and I hope that I do, I don't think that any race will compare to this
one. I'm so so so very thankful for my godsend Holly who pushed me and
coached me through my first race. I finished in 2 hours 3 minutes 54
seconds. My pace was 9:27, much faster then I had trained for.
Ryan came in 43 out of 2400+ people! He's got some talent there. We both
had a great time and I'm already on the lookout for my next race!
And yes, I'm addicted.
