So as you all know, I just finished a crazy race. From Saratoga to Lake Placid. Most people start with a 5k...... however, I decided to go big. Why not right? As Kelly Clarkson says, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Kelly, you go girl. Never running a race before, I had no idea what to expect. So I joined a team, of which I knew 3 people out of 12. Not an issue with me since I grow on people quickly.....I think.
I did my training, which I thought was good enough. Boy was I wrong. I had 3 legs of the race which totalled around 19 miles.
Race time started and it rained and rained and rained......by the end we were wet, tired, sore, (well some of us.....Dan, Jason, and myself), but most of all, excited that we as a team completed something that most people couldn't think possible.
Support came from all the teams, the volunteers, and friends and families. Seeing runner's faces light up as vans beeped their horns as they drove by, made the runs easier. Some of the routes were very lonely and dark, so they needed any pick me up, and they deserved and earned it.
Speaking of a pick me up, there was a moment at around 3 or 4 in the morning where some of us were crashing and just burnt out, and a song came on the radio that just revived us, Gangnam Style!!! Love that song. We got out and blasted it, did the dance and gave us life again.
At the end, watching teams running all together crossing that finish line cold, wet, tired, and laughing and having a great time will always stick in my head. When our team, Got The Runs, finished, I was so happy that I was part of a team that accepted me in without knowing me, and by the end we just ran 193 miles together and crossed the finish line as one.
It was such a great experience that I am ready for the next one. Cape Cod here we come.
I will be adding another challenge in as well, maybe a Spartan Race or something. I know I can push myself to some pretty tough extremes after this race.
To my team, thanks for this chance and the next one will be better. You guys were great and very supportive. Couldn't have asked for a better group of people to do that with for a first race. Can't wait for the Cape.
I will leave you with this: challenge yourself and push yourself to the limit and once you finish that challenge, you can finish anything.
#ragswag
