The Chi Omega Make a Wish 5K was yesterday--the 12th race in our running series, and my 17th event this year.
10 minutes AFTER the race--I started sneezing and coughing nonstop--and continued all night and still this morning.
Maybe THAT had something to do with my race performance..............
Saturday dawned cool and beautiful.
But what DOES one do when she has an afternoon race?
I tried to stay busy, but not overdo--worked on the house and paperwork and a myriad of tasks.
I had been dreaming of a 26 something finish.
Could today be the day?
27:11 my best time ever so far.
Finally, finally, 2 came and I could head to Jonesboro.
70s and sun under a blue sky with some light wind.
So happy to be out there and able to run.
Hurry up 4 p.m.!
The course started on Main Street, looped down to the "hood" and finished back on Main.
Only a couple of hills--a decent one at .5 and then the long one most of the last .5.
Finally, finally, the gun sounded and off we went.
The first quarter, I knew I didn't have it.
Saw some of my competition pass me by, and felt like I was running in slow motion.
I decided this would be my last competition for the year.
This was just NO FUN and maybe I was just plain tired.
Couldn't kick myself, cause I KNEW I was pushing, pushing, pushing.
If I finished dead last, I knew I was giving it everything--but I kept wondering what about
all those hours and hours and hours of hard training I had put in?
I came into the race prepared and rested.
Plus, mentally, I KNEW I was ready.
What happened?
People were out waving and cheering all along the way.
Also, mowing, and several times I smelled some kind of chemical
they must have been using on their yards.
Coming up the first hill at .5 I felt--strangely--oddly--stronger!
I passed a few, and decided when I crested the hill to hold nothing back, even this early in the race.
Short downhill, and then flat, flat, flat.
Fly feet, faster, faster, faster!
Mile 1: 8:15.
WHAT??????
I had never done a mile that fast!
That gave me encouragement!!!!
Strong, I feel strong I told myself.
Fast, fast, feet.
Relax.
Smile.
Smile.
A few more people dropped off, and of course there was the allure of the water station.
My throat was KILLING ME. A sudden thing!
Burning, burning, and I was gasping for breath.
Push. Push.
Do the best you can TODAY.
Does not matter who is in front of me, nor who is behind, nor how close.
Just run your race I kept saying.
Coming up on mile 2, and I am actually CLOSE to Carol!
What the?????????
How did THAT happen???
She could hear me behind her--gasping, gasping, and kept cheering me on and saying
come on! Come on! You can do it!
Mile 2: 16:45
Dang it!
All I had to do was about a 10 minute final mile and I would actually SEE 26 on the clock!
Go go go go!
Pick up your feet!
Strong, you feel STRONG--I told myself.
Ran past some more runners--
much YOUNGER runners--meaning they didn't have
all those years getting out of bed to put in the miles--
but also, they wouldn't be staring at 53 birthday candles on their cake.
And there ahead of me--suddenly--was the long hill.
Not a steep hill.
A long hill.
My throat--my throat was burning like FIRE!
My feet felt like concrete blocks.
What?
What was happening to me?
I was gonna do a 15 minute final mile?
I could feel myself struggling, struggling, dying.
Top of the hill, and a sharp right turn.
Police had traffic stopped and I decided I was pushing right up to the intersection, even if he let the traffic loose again.
He didn't.
That was all I had.
So close to the finish, and I was dying.
Just keep lifting my legs.
DON'T GIVE UP, DON'T GIVE UP!
Turn left--up a slight incline--almost there--I couldn't fade now.
I was NOT GONNA FADE NOW.
I could see injured Paula and fast, fast John there at the top of the hill hollering for me.
My head was pounding and I pushed for one last surge.
Top of the hill and a sharp turn left and I can see the clock!
It still said 25 something!!!!!!!!!!!!!
All I had to do was run straight through the finish.
I would make it unless I died, which seemed like a definite possibility.
26:11 as I was running under the banner.
Finished 26:19.
I feel like I won FIRST PLACE OVERALL!!!
Laughing.
Immediately started sneezing, sneezing, coughing, coughing.
Did not care.
Floating, yes WOBBLY to the point I had to hold on to not fall.
So happy, so happy, so happy!
1st my age group.
Got my picture made with the Make a Wish child.
All the winners did.
Precious little girl.
Tears when I thought of how lucky I am to have the health to run.
They said they'd mail us our winning plaques.
An award could no way come close to how I felt right then, stomping my previous best time, standing at the finish with my friends, celebrating an event to make the life of a sick child a little easier.
A once in a lifetime memory.
I am blessed!!
