In the pursuit of just about any game animal, you must understand thier habitat and how they move through it. A few years ago I thought about my own habitat and started thinking about how we adapt for it. Our lives are swaddled in cumfort and ease. Which is great, but I don't ever want to lose that animal side of me....the blood instinct side of me. We all know how imperative excersize is, but for me it's more therapy than excersize. Last year I trained very hard to complete my 1st 1/2 marathon (13.1 miles). I finished with a time of 1:59:15. I was excited to have finished in under 2 hours! At the end of the race I became quite emotional as I thought about how hard I trained for so long and to see the result. I immediately registered for the full marathon (26.2 miles) for 2011. I really never stopped training so I had a bit of a head start. I love running. I find my pace and get lost in my thoughts. The race was set for January 16th and as the date neared I was excited. All the running, all the lifting I had done leads up to this one challenge, this one moment. That is the exciting part. Race morning found me up at 4 am stretching, hydrating, and focusing on the 26.2 miles ahead of me. Dad picked me up early and headed to the race. The crack of the gun at 7:40 am couldn't come fast enough, I was ready! I started on my way trying to keep a 9: 40 minute/mile pace. I had braces on due to knee issues I had been having. I felt great and stayed in my pace until about mile 20. I had starting feeling my left knee tighten and was starting to get a little concerned. After stopping for water I got back on the track and was horrified to find I couldn't bend my left knee. It was excrutiating pain and I became angry and terrified that I would not be able to continue. I would NOT let that happen. I got back on course and basically started throwing my left leg in front of me trying to get it going. After about a quarter mile it finally loosened up but the pain was very bad. I grit my teeth and thought about all the time I spent working out and training. I WILL finish. I focused on each stride and willed myself along. Towards the finish line I had entered a zone in my head I rarely see. It's kind of like watching gears turn. The human body is a perfect machine. It must be maintaned. All the training I had done seemed not for the full 26.2 miles but rather the last 6. The encouraging words of my family and determination helped me push past the pain. Just about to the finish line I looked up out of my inner thoughts (and through a little desperation) and saw my family cheering me on. Those cheers pushed me right over the finish line! My goal was to finish under 5 hours. I finished with a time of 4 hrs 14 mins and 39 seconds! The loud pain of my knee was muted by the hugs and smiles of my family (& a little ice). It's hard to describe the emotions I felt. It felt like the end of a very long journey ( longer than 26 miles ). It is a feeling of setting a lofty goal, working hard, and finally succeeding. I know why people trek to Everest or K2. The challenge sings a siren song to be answered by your inner will.
Authors Note: Without those to guide us.......we are lost. Special thanks to : Dad for always encouraging me and all the helpful advice, Mom for that always special hug and smile when I need it, and all my brothers and sisters who keep me moving foward.
