I did it. I finished. I tried every obstacle and completed all but one. I had help from strangers and I helped strangers. I got mud in places I am still discovering.
I wouldn't change a thing. How I trained, how I performed. I have no regrets. Only excited to see what I can do next year.
More later, sleep now.
I am in the car, Cory is driving and listening to thrash metal. Cecilia is happily enjoying some Aunt Chrissy time. Mom is patiently waiting for Cory and I to pick her up. Then Rosy the diesel Volkswagon wagon will zip us up to Michigan to join my brother and sorta SIL for a low key evening before the race.
I am jumping out of my skin. I've known since January this was coming. It feels like I just blinked and it's here.
I started training for this like everything I've done. I hit it gun-ho with wreckless abandonment then get bored and move on. I was stagnent and feeling sorry for myself.
One morning we were lazy and decided we would watch Mass on TV. It's out of New York. Very good. Any who, the priest was talking about loving our neighbors they way God loves them. Very common Catholic theme. Then he said something that, though I know it had been said before, I never really heard it.
"Love yourself the way God loves you."
One sentence and my attitude changed. I'm not loving myself with an unhealthy lifestyle. I'm punishing the gift God gave me: my life.
Do I still slip? Heck yes. Today at my other SIL's baby shower, I ate the best piece of cake in my life! Banana with buttercream. It was unbelievable. And I don't feel bad. Because when was the last time I had cake? I can't even remember.
So now I sit, celebrating what I've done, what I'm going to do. And I can't wait for the next adventure!
I'm not a religious blogger. I have friends who update every day. That kind of commitment is brilliant to me. And truly not my talent.
That being said, I have a lot to catch you all up on.
I participated in the Fort Wayne Diva Dash in June. It was the first 5K I ever trained for. I kept motivated by a woman wearing pink argyle socks. She was in my site the entire way. Close to the end, another woman caught up to me to tell me she was using my shirt to stay motivated. On the back it says, "If I can finish, you can finish." We all crossed the finish line together, holding hands.
I finished in the middle with a pace of 14:48. I was proud.
After the race, several people came up to me saying I motivated them. I was so moved. After so many people have inspired and motivated me, I now am the motivator.
Six weeks later, I walked my last three miles today. The Warrior Dash is on Sunday. The costumes are finished, the hotel is booked, and best of all, I am ready. All the ups and downs, literal hills and mental moutains, have led to this. I am only competing with myself. My goals? To simply finish, try my hardest and HAVE FUN!
P.S. The picture is of my morning route. I love how quiet it is, the moon setting with the sun rising. Beautiful!
