Check out the bling!
This is the end result of the races I did this weekend.
Conditions were great for the 10k on Saturday. The course was quick, interesting, and I felt strong.
Sunday, well, Sunday was a slightly different story.
The humidity was almost 100%, temps were in the 70s at the start and this was the first time I’d done back-to-back races.
By Mile 2, I was dripping sweat.
By Mile 4 – about a third of the way done – I started bargaining with myself.
My hip was tight. I was wearing the wrong clothes. I had new shoes that were untested. I had run too fast yesterday. I started too fast today. I hadn’t trained enough in the last month.
Conversation in my head: Just go to one more water stop and then you can run and walk. Now this is something I’ve never done, but I was giving it serious consideration.
And then something else happened.
All I could think is this: I run because I get to.
I saw this phrase recently and it really resonated with me. Suddenly it also seemed to follow me everywhere.
At the Running Expo two days prior, I bought this shirt:
(It’s from Fellow Flowers, and if you aren’t feeling particularly authentic, perhaps you are filled with strength, gratitude, courage, hope, or just feeling worthy. Check them out).
I thought about my Dad, who inspired my love of running and would have loved to be there.
I run because I get to.
And then I ran past a group of spectators who were more than happy to give me high fives. My energy surged.
I run because I get to.
And then – get your tissues – I ran past a group of children in wheelchairs, cheering on the runners.
I run because I get to.
Suddenly, 13.1 miles didn’t seem so far.
I run because I get to.
My time was far, far from a personal best: 2:07:31.
I was #1207 out of 19,294 finishers.
But I did it, and it was awesome.
I run because I get to.
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