Friday night I hadn't slept well..I kept waking up. My cousin had told me he wasn't sure if he was going to be able to take me to the race so I was trying to decide if I was going to walk to World's Fair Park. It's three miles from my house. That was on top of the three miles I was going to race. On top of that the weather had gotten very cold. The race time temperature was only going to be in the 20s. Was I willing to race in the cold? Wearing a coat wasn't an option, I knew I'd burn up. It was all weighing on me heavily as I laid down for bed.
The night was rough. I tossed and turned all night but couldn't sleep well. When the alarm clock went off at 7 a.m. I didn't want to get up, but I knew I had to get up and shake off the previous day's misery. As I was sitting there a text came through from a classmate who was already at the race. She was holding a sign showing that she was wearing a In Honor of race bib and she had written in my name. I felt very emotional and blessed so I knew I had to go. I got up, got ready and text my cousin in hopes he would show up. He called back and drove me to the race.
When I got to World's Fair Park, there was my classmate..I got checked in and she and her sorority sister got me shirts. I put them on over my other 2 shirts and she walked with me to the Zeta tent where I got food and drinks. I then walked from tent to tent collecting all the free goodies that survivors get. After a couple biscuits, a cupcake and some hot chocolate, I was feeling more energized so I was ready to race. I climbed the stairs to the bridge where the race was set to begin.
As the race started I began shooting photos and video clips with my cellphone and posting them on Instagram and Facebook. I wanted other people to share in the race experience. One of my friends had paid for my registration so I wanted to be sure he saw that I was really out there racing.
There were over 13,000 people out here for the race. For a survivor to be surrounded by so many people that obviously were passionate about the cause, it is very overwhelming. Several times I had to hold it together to keep from crying. Total strangers kept coming up to me and congratulating me on being there..I even got the local radio station to shout out my 2 1/2 years of being a survivor. I couldn't get a full run out because there were so many people but I stayed at a brisk walk while I snapped photos and listened to my music.
Three miles isn't that long, in time you get used to it, but the blistering cold that morning made the distance seem so much further. The cold seemed to penetrate..I had to keep my gloves off to take photos which made my hands freeze. I just ignored it so I could keep snapping pictures. After awhile I didn't even feel the cold. I was feeling good and upbeat. Gone was the sadness from the say before, I knew I was going to finish this race.
Near the finish line they separate the survivors from everyone else. I am then escorted across the line by one of the UT fraternities and given a carnation. Everyone comes over to hug me. It is the most amazing feeling. After the race I am given a single white rose. It is a symbol to me of all the hard work, effort and time I put into preparing myself mentally and physically for completing another 5k.
Now it's time to find the next 5k for me to enter.
No comments:
Post a Comment