Let’s Finish the Race
On Sunday I joined 1,000 or so of my closest Memphis running friends for the first race of the series I’m participating in. The whole series has 10 races, 2 of each distance—5k, 5 miles, 10k, 10 miles, and half marathon. It starts in the heat of summer and ends in the coolness of fall. I’ve participated several years now and in a very strange way, enjoy it.
It was pretty gross out on Sunday. It felt as if we were in a hot tub, but take out the tub and just leave the steaming heat. Breathing was hard.
We started the race. I looked around smiling. This . . . this is what it’s about right here. A common interest, a common goal. I worked to get really mindful in that moment. I noticed the other runners, the hair bouncing up and down, the swinging of the arms, the looks on the other faces (perhaps as they passed me). I listened to the sound of feet hitting the pavement like a rhythmic harmony. I listened to my own breathing, working to steady my breath and my heartbeat.
That took me about .5 miles. Then the realization hit—“Why did I sign up again?! What was I thinking?!” I wasn’t. That’s the truth. Someone else said they were signed up and I decided at that moment that I was not going to miss out on the fun, so I registered. And now here I am, thinking “Why, oh why?” as I round a corner, police standing in the street blocking traffic. “Thank you!” people call out. Water is up ahead. I skip it, I always carry my own. Up and down a few hills . . . some people slow to a walk . . . others are also shaking their heads, probably sharing similar thoughts as mine.
And then I hear a younger child express that they are having a hard time and don’t think they can make it. I glance back. It’s a preteen with (I’m guessing) Dad. Dad encourages this child, “You can do this—you are strong and capable and we are going to finish!” His tone is light and energetic. Someone else close by says, “Does that go for me too?!” And the man replies loudly, “That goes for all of us!” I could feel the rush of energy in the group as we lifted our bodies higher, picked up our heads, and had a lighter step as we continued to run. The spirit changed right then. It was as if the group decided we were going to do this together.
We continued the run. I noticed at some point I had been leapfrogging with another person. We were almost to the end and he had started walking. I looked at him and said, “We can do this! We have been leapfrogging this whole time! Let’s finish this well!” He smiled and continued his run. Up that last hill—why do they put a finish line at the top of a hill—and across that line! I watched as some others came through, including that child and Dad. They were all smiles and beaming with pride, knowing they accomplished something big today.
I looked around. Same group. Maybe a bit less energy and a lot more sweat, but with a common interest and a common goal—we did it. Strangers? I don’t think so. We are a community. Though some run with ease and for many miles and others struggle to finish a shorter distance, we are all runners. We run together, we encourage together, and we finish together. We are a community.
Be Bold; Be Courageous; Be YOU!
xoxo,
Your Strengths Coach - Mary
