“…Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”
Hebrews 12:1
Now that the smoke has cleared on Texarkana’s Run the Line
2012, I have a few things to share that the experience has shown me. First, I learned
that there are many others who value fitness and hundreds in this area alone
who are in so much better shape than I will ever be. It is an astounding
achievement to run 13 miles. I also learned that being the only walker is a
unique experience. Out of the 500 or so participants, I was the only walker. So I
finished first place and last place at the same time. Wrap your head around
that one. I didn’t even mind seeing everyone pass me by, though I could never
decide how to properly get out of their way. Finally, I learned that not
everyone understands the magnitude of my accomplishment because they compare it
to the other 500+ runners. When I consider the journey that I started over 4
years ago, this was a culmination of a new life that I created, one in which
fitness is a new priority. In 2008, I was nearly 300 lbs and could not even walk
up a flight of stairs without getting out of breath. I was not competing
against the runners or against anyone else for that matter. As always, I was my
own competition.
No one can make fun of, discount, write away, or convince me
in any other way that this was not an amazing accomplishment. When I consider
the brokenness of my feet, the hours of self-doubt the days before the race,
and wondering if I could even finish while experiencing great pain for over half
the race, it amazes me even more. It is likely I will never participate in another
half marathon, but the challenges I seek will never disappear. There are new
ones ahead; even if no one understands and I stand alone as the final participant.
The satisfaction of seeing the finish line is a reward all its own. Bring on
the next challenge!!!!!
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