10 hours to the Start!

That moment when you just aren't sure you are going to get to the starting line!  That's my current reality.  My husband Mark and I picked up my packet today.  We found the start of the race, drove as much as we could, and even dropped a pin at the 8 mile spot.  He is planning on cheering from that spot since the course is an out and back.  This means I will pass it at mile 8 and approx mile 18.  

My Gear is Ready

We had a wonderful day together and fully enjoyed ourselves.  We even walked a small section of the course.  It is going to be just beautiful.  So why should I worry that I won't reach the starting line?  My stomach.  It is still hurting.  The pain subsided enough during the day that I was sure the pains were simply a passing thing.  But then, I hadn't eaten all day.  Now we all know that that is not good the day before a marathon.  One has to make sure to hydrate and fuel properly.  Hydration was no problem.  But fueling? That didn't happen until 3:00 and shortly after it set off a  firestorm in my stomach.  Mark reminded me that whatever happens, God will have me where I am supposed to be tomorrow.  He reassured me that if I am unable to run tomorrow there will be other races.  So, we still have 7 hours to sleep, and 3 hours to ready myself.  Still hoping! Still praying.  My prayer, "

Thank you Lord for the wonderful opportunity to train for this day.  Thank you that no matter what happens, I will be where I am supposed to be."

Lesson 19 – Some things you can ignore, others catch your attention.  I successfully blocked out the desire for food with the remaining drops in the water bottle.  Then I saw a sign that read, “Toenails are really over-rated”.  One of the things most marathon runners experience is the loss of one or more toenails caused from the constant pounding against the shoes.  I thought of something I heard Jeff Foxworthy say in his comedy routine, “You shouldn’t wear flip flops if you have ugly feet, or your toenails are missing.

Rock n Roll 1/2 

I would not be able to make it through the rest of the summer without my flip flops.  I told myself how silly it was to be concerned about what Jeff Foxworthy said about fashion.  But still if he was right I did not want to lose any of my toenails.  I figured since I had walked over half way that probably wouldn’t happen.  Three weeks later that theory proved wrong…but, I still wore my flip flops deciding I did not care what others thought.  If they made a comment I would let them know I lost it running a marathon. That would shut them up.  People usually don’t comment on stuff like that anyway unless they are standing up in front of an audience trying to make them laugh.

There are a great many things in life we should not concern ourselves with.  The biggest one is being so concerned with what other people think or say that causes us to actually change personality to please others.  When we engage in that type of insanity it will become very difficult living free and being content with who we are because even we won’t know who that is.

Lesson number 20 – The last mile is filled with anticipation regardless of what has preceded it? The mile twenty five marker looked so good to me I knew my journey was nearly done and the fight would be over.  I wonder if that is how my loved ones have felt when their life’s journey was near an end.  That’s another story for another time.  Tired makes you think strange things at the oddest times.  Seriously mile 25 was sweet.  At all nine of my previous marathons runners that had finished the race ahead of me were near the course cheering the trailing runners on toward completion. 

Not today, by the time I reached this point the early crossers were long gone.  Most were probably done with their end of race massage, soaking their weary muscles in a tub of warm water, or relaxing in front of the TV.  Then I saw her; the grey haired lady in grey waving her flag and shouting, “Go 3100 you are almost there?”  This time I did match her enthusiasm with, “Wow, it’s you again, thanks for the encouragement.  I’m gonna do it!”

Lesson number 21 – When the music ends, keep on dancing there’s still a melody in the air.  The bands had left the final mile finale.  They had packed up their instruments at the sixth hour (five minutes ago).  There was one musician with his trumpet still uncased and someone hobbling along the course yelled, “Play us one more song.” He lifted the trumpet to his lips and I was expecting something from John Phillips Sousa, instead he sounded Milton Butterfield’s Taps (not the inspiring march I had in mind).

Now that’s sick humor, funny none the less, most of us still in the run got a good chuckle and it successfully took our minds off the pain our bodies were experiencing, even if only temporarily. 

Lesson 22 – Sometimes a steady pace is better than a sprint.  During that last half mile I found it encouraging that my walk had gained momentum as I swung my arms to help propel me forward and I was passing those who were running without much mobility. I gave my leg one last chance to perform, at least a simulated jog.  I gave it a forward thrust and made like a runner, when my foot hit the pavement pain shot up through my entire body and I feared I might fall down. 

Guess I would just have to gracefully limp across the finish line and hope that with the musician’s instruments the cameras were in their cases.

Stay tuned tomorrow!  Race day and Joyce's Finish!

7th  Habit Run For your Life