Running brings such peace in life. Being able to identify a goal
& achieve it is not always a given. I recently began training for my first
marathon and found it a difficult task, especially past the 14 mile mark.
The first 13.1: I began the first
of 26.2 this Sunday with a large pack of runners for one of many annual marathons.
It was freezing for a Floridian, which is to say it was about 30 degrees (no
snow, but ice on one bridge). The first 13.1 was great…no pain, easy going and
in good spirits. Then the pacer seemed to speed up…
The second 13.1: I started to feel
the shin splints that I took 3 weeks off for in the hopes they’d just
disappear. They reappeared during the second 13.1 & hit hard. The cramps
started at 18 or 20, then it got difficult. Thankful to a fellow runner I
caught up with at mile 14. We pushed each other for several miles, then the
mutual benefit faded. I was able to finish in a respectable time due to her
strength in pushing me to not stop & just focus on the 3 5Ks we had left.
One down, then two & the final push. Yes…running is an individual sport in
many ways, but at times it is definitely a fellow runner that helps lift our
spirits.
Running across the line was awesome, like awesomely awesome. One
of the best experiences of my life & one of the most painful.
I found new limits that I could run past. You can find out a lot
about yourself running a marathon.
So…I run to learn my limits…and how to break through them…
Peace…
