My First Half Marathon Part 3

As I continued to push myself to move my legs I began looking forward to the little groups of spectators and cheerleaders more and more.  I found myself getting the energy that I needed to move to the next group from these strangers calling out to me (and the thousands of other people running).  As we turned up 43^rd Ave I felt like I was fighting a losing battle.  My mind continued to tell my legs to run at the pace they knew how to run at, yet they were rebelling. 

I quickly passed the 8 mile marker and told myself only 5 miles to go.  I can do five miles, not a problem.  The course took us through some residential neighborhoods and there were people on their lawns cheering so it felt easy.  I was going to do this.  I had found my second, well maybe third or fourth wind and I was going to be able to push through.  As we turned onto Lake Washington Blvd I thought that I really had a chance to run the entire way.

Then I hit mile marker number 9.  Only 4 more miles to go.  ONLY 4 MORE MILES TO GO.  What was I thinking?  I have already been out here for nearly 2 hours and I do not know how much longer I can take it.  My pace was down to a steady walk.  My legs were screaming at me to stop.  I didn’t know if I was actually going to finish or not.

This mile was specially set aside for the Wear Blue: Run to Remember group that honors fallen soldiers.  For almost the entire run near Lake Washington every 10 feet or so was another placard with the picture of a fallen soldier on it.  If I wasn’t so tired I would have paid more attention to it. 

As I kept moving forward the words of our Team World Vision leader came back into my head.  (You know the ones I am talking about.)  The ones where she prayed that we all hit a wall so hard that we are no longer able to complete our journey.  Well I was hitting that wall at full force. 

I knew that if I stopped I would never get going again.  I knew that if I took even a small break that would be it for me.  So I kept my legs moving and I prayed.  I prayed for the strength to keep them moving.  I knew I was in pain.  I knew I was going to be in more pain when I finished but I prayed to continue. 

I thought about why I was doing this run.  I thought about all of the money that people had donated in my name to help those kids.  I knew that they would keep walking to and from the ponds to get water for their family no matter how painful it was.  So I kept moving.  It wasn’t fast but it was forward.  When I felt like it I ran.  When I couldn’t run I walked.  Through it all I just kept my legs moving.

So now I came to this steep, narrow incline to put me onto I-90 right at the start of the tunnel.  Up into the tunnel.  Up the steady incline of the road.  On and on with no change in scenery and no end in sight.  I just kept moving my legs until I saw the end of the tunnel and the marker for mile 10. 

The tunnel sucked.  The sameness of the walls.  The echo of everybody panting.  The staleness of the air.  It was the most monotonous part of the entire race.  But, I kept my legs moving.  I kept plodding up the hill until finally I saw a light at the end of the tunnel. 

I had finally made it to the mile 10 marker.  I had crossed into double digits.  I was back outside and moving down the I-90 Expressway back towards Seattle.  I could see my destination in front of me, WAY in front of me but in front none the less. 

I crossed the 11 mile marker and new that for the most part it was a downhill race to the finish line.  2 more miles to go.  2 miles was easy.  I run 2 miles on the BPA trail in Federal Way like it is nothing.  A simple down and back.  This is going to be easy I thought.

On I trudged.  A rule of thumb that I have when running is to never walk down a hill.  Gravity is my friend and I am not going to waste an opportunity to have my friend help me.  So I picked up my pace a bit going down the hills and I slowed back to my trudge when I hit a flat. 

Mile marker 12 was right around the corner at the end of the I-90 Expressway.  I was so close to the finish line I could almost taste it.  Although at this point the only taste I had in my mouth was from all of those Gatorade energy chews that I was eating one after the other trying to squeeze every last drop of energy out of them. 

Off the Expressway and onto Seattle Blvd for just a second and then onto 4^th Ave.  This was it.  I could see the stadiums right next to me and it was virtually all downhill.  All I had to do was keep moving.  Then we got to S Royal Brougham Way.  I hate, let me repeat that, I hate what they did to the road by making you go up and around the other roads.  Couldn’t they have just opened up the roads on the ground and let us through or something? 

So up the ramp I go.  Left foot.  Right foot.  Left foot.  Right foot.  All the way up the ramp I go just praying that I do not fall and roll down the ramp.  As I come down the ramp I see the gather of all the cheering people lined up on either side of the road.  I turn onto Occidental Ave and I can see the finish line ahead.  I am moving my legs as fast as they will go.  I am scanning the crowd hoping for just a glimpse of mom, dad or Lukas.  Up ahead I see them all cheering and waving.  My final motivation to just make it to the finish line up ahead. 

I was almost all alone on the straight away as I saw the emcee now cheering me on to make it through the finish.  I have always told Lukas to finish strong so I was not going to wimp out on him.  I pushed my way through the finish line high fiving the emcee as I went by. 

I was done.  I had finished 13.1 miles.  I walked to the nice lady handing out the medals and let her place mine over my neck.  I made my way through the different food stations.  Getting water and Gatorade, protein bars, and other things to help.  I went and got my aluminum blanket to keep some body heat near me.  I got my “official” finisher picture taken with my medal around my neck.  Then I made my way to an open area to sit down with the family. 

I started this journey several months ago and now I had completed it.  I was able to raise money and awareness for a great cause.  I was able to show Lu that if you put your mind to something you can accomplish it.  I am proud of what I accomplished.  Was it a full 26.2 mile marathon?  No.  Someday I will hold that medal around my neck but for right now I am proud that I of what I did accomplish.

13.1 miles is a long distance.  Don’t believe me?  Join me next year.