Applause/Half-marathon race report April 28, 2008
Posted by regivizz Uncategorized
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I give a hearty round of applause to my family and friends. Mine are the best, ya know?
Without excuses of “it’s too early/wet/cold/far/troublesome” they showed up to offer support as Nathan, Dale and I ran the OKC Memorial Half-marathon. They cheered loudly at our approach, giving encouragement as we faced the toughest part of the course.
Not only that, they helped all along the way without even realizing it. As we took off in the cold drizzle at 6:30 AM, I knew that my timing chip let them know the race had begun. After the first few miles, as the crowd began to thin, my thoughts turned again to those waiting. As I passed cheering onlookers I had the comfort of knowing that there would be those cheering as I passed them by, those who actually knew me!
Anxiously I ran, faster than normal, looking to cross that next timing mat. I wanted them to know I was still doing well and that my pace was holding steady. I couldn’t stop running because they were counting on me to be there in a certain time range.
Even when I knew that nobody was scheduled to be at a specific corner or waiting in a specific park, I continually scanned faces in hopes that there would be a surprise spectator. The surprise spectator. Other than my desire of having friends and family showing their support, this is probably my next greatest wish: to see someone I didn’t expect. Unlike last year when I saw a former co-worker who yelled his heart out for me, I didn’t see anyone I knew, but I kept running because I knew that up ahead were those who were waiting.
We crossed a timing mat just before the 8 mile mark and then rounded back onto that final west-bound stretch. Just before the corner I spotted Mom and Dad. With a big grin I picked up the pace a little and started waving. (Looking back, I’m not sure where I found the energy to lift my arms that high, but it’s quite wonderful what a little incentive can do!) Wow. If felt so good to see them! It made the last 8 miles feel like they never existed. I felt like I was starting afresh. (I know I didn’t look or smell very fresh, but I felt it!) I wanted to ask how far ahead and behind Dale and Nathan were but I only had the energy for a “thank you so much for coming” as I purposed to run until the end of mile 9 without stopping to walk.
More loud cheers and uplifting grins came just before mile 9 where three more special friends were gathered. Fellow runners who had been there for the last several months to run/walk/push me on my training runs. The ones who encouraged me to keep going, to be persistent and to log the miles needed to run the half-marathon. The ones who witnessed most of the 130+ miles it took to get to the race. After that encouragement (and a little horn honking a bit later!) it was up to me to get to the finish line. That’s where it gets tough. That’s where you start tapping in to the emotions that kept you going for the first part of the race. That’s where you start coming up with theories to explain why it helps so much to have your friends and family there for support.
To put it into perspective for non-runners, it’s like an invitee’s attendance at your child’s birthday party. Maybe this line of thinking is flawed, but bear in mind it’s based upon “on-my-tenth-mile” logic! You put in the time and effort of making it happen (minus the blood, sweat and tears) and you hope it means enough to the friends and family you invited that they’ll strive to be there no matter what. When they do, it warms your heart and makes you feel loved! More importantly, on Sunday they did! That alone gave me the emotional encouragement I needed to keep running when my body kept saying it wanted to slow down a bit!
Once again, I offer up a hearty “THANKS Y’ALL” to my friends and family. They really are the best.
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