Friends, is there something you have always wanted to do that would be a challenge for yourself? Or even more than a challenge, you can’t quite even picture yourself doing it, even though you want to try?
My finger is pointing at myself. For years, I always admired those people who ran 5K’s. I couldn’t think past a 5K to a half marathon and beyond. I have never been a runner…never really enjoyed it. However, years ago I put an item on my BUCKET LIST that said “walk or run a half marathon. Why? Just to prove to myself that I can do it.”! Had I lost my mind?
The bucket list item lingered in the back of my mind all these years (I think I wrote that down over 6 years ago). Then I saw a 5K for St. Jude’s coming to Nashville, TN. It was PERFECT! My daughters live there; I love that city: I love the cause – St. Jude’s! SIGN ME UP!
Have you ever done something and thought…oh my what have I done?! I felt that way the day I paid the entry fee and pressed the COMPLETE ORDER button. I was on my way to facing the fear of running a 5K. I decided the NEXT STEP I needed to do was to share it on social media. Why? I wanted to share so that first and foremost, I would HOLD MYSELF ACCOUNTABLE! However, I also wanted to ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO DO SOMETHING THEY MIGHT BE FEARFUL OF DOING!
The training…
My training was sporadic. I would try to be consistent. I would get off track. I would HURT as I tried to get into shape. Oh yeah, let me just say, I was NOT in any sort of cardio shape when I began. I also have issues with my “numerous sprained” ankles. They burned like fire at times! I REFUSED to let it stop me, even though some workouts ended before I wanted them to end. I also will be HONEST…I sometimes thought “what in the world am I doing?”. Again, I wasn’t doing something that impacted the world, made a major difference to society…BUT I was doing something that made a major difference for me mentally. I was also really HOPING I could inspire someone else to do something that they MIGHT have been considering but were FEARFUL!
Race day…
We were up at 4:30am! I drank a half a cup of coffee, drank a half a cup of water, ate half of a banana and we were on our way. My husband and two of my daughters left me at the starting corral. I looked at others around me. They inspired me! As the time grew closer, someone sang the national anthem. I remember looking at the flag, watching the fog and the gray clouds flow around the AT&T building (the Batman building as it is called by most people). It was a little chilly, which was a perfect temperature. Then the race started. Obviously I was not in the first few corrals that took off. As we walked closer to the start line, I started my playlist (which I strategically created the night before), I hit the start on my watch and off I went! My family was not far down the route from the start line. They cheered, waved, took video and photos and completely inspired me to do my best! I had a hard time not crying at that moment. It is hard to breathe when you are trying to run and cry at the same time. HA! Crying will have to come later!
During the race…
I was so excited! It actually was a lot more fun than I anticipated. I made sure I ran every downhill…for obvious reasons. HA! The organizers had live music at a few points along the route; people handing out Bio-freeze if needed and I think there was a water station. I was NOT STOPPING for anything! Then I turned a corner. Along one section of a street, they had those flags that stand tall on the ground (like the ones when someone is advertising something). However, these flags had the St. Jude’s colors and photos of some of the patients who have benefitted from St. Jude’s. I told myself no matter how tired I was, I would run that entire section. I wanted to honor those beautiful souls who had been patients.
One of the most emotional moments of the race…I turned a corner and could see Nissan Stadium through an opening between a building and a tree. Nissan Stadium was the finish line! I pumped my arms in the air like I just won the Olympics or something! I was going to make it. Fast forward to the end…I ran around the one side of that stadium knowing the finish line was just around the corner. I knew my family would be there cheering me on to finish. I had a most likely silly smile on my face. I was SO HAPPY!!
After the race…
My family hugged me, congratulated me and told me they were proud of me! All of my adult life I have cheered on my 3 daughters in their various sports, through their education and just life in general. I have also cheered on my husband as he helped create a very successful travel softball program; as well as cheering him on in his work! For my family to be cheering me on…I can’t even explain how much it meant to me. I feel like I have always had their backs, encouraging them, helping them, etc. For them to have my back on race day, along with the encouragement as I was training, it just meant the world to me. Sorry if that sounds dramatic, but it is my STORY! HA!! My one daughter who was out of town called me via Facetime after the race to congratulate me! It was a great morning and it was only about 8:00am. HA HA!
Why do I share this with all of you? I just want you to know that it is ok to put yourself first occasionally! It is ok to try something NEW! It is ok to do something that makes you FEARFUL! I completely believe in you! You will be changed a little after you complete whatever it is you want to do. You will be changed for the better. Again, I BELIEVE IN YOU!
Now…go “WEAR THE PERFUME!” in your life!
Thanks for stopping by!
Linda
