I was anxious to get going. I once again gave my friends the
option to not go with me. I felt bad making them do this extra time. Jenni had
to get Allison home but the rest of them said they were there for me. Even
Scot, who had already finished his marathon, said he was going to do the miles
with me. I felt some guilt but also very, very loved.
After getting everyone
settled and ready to go again we started on the trail. I ran a few minutes but
knew that because of some strange pains I was having I was going to have to
walk. I was ok with that. I warned everyone I would be walking and they were
free to run however they wanted. The stayed right with me. Scot and Jeremy ran
most of it but they would always come back to us. Never once was I made to feel
like I was putting them out or they were sacrificing for me. This was a security
that felt new to me.
I actually had a lot
of fun on these last miles. Emily played in the cotton “snow” and spread pixie
dust. We laughed and talked and enjoyed the beautiful trail, river and scenery.
Even if it was 1000*- or at least 80*. Alesa and Doug were awesome with their
support. They kept us supplied with water and even grapes.
We shared fuel and electrolyte pills. I feel so bonded with
these people and next time that I need support in my life, I know
who I want on my side!
As we walked along, I was thinking about how the day had
gone. It hadn’t been anything like my original plan, it hadn’t been plan b or
even plan c. But I thought about the lessons and love I had felt that day. I
thought back to the prayer I’d been praying for days and the one I prayed even
as we climbed that uphill know that I was so close to the cut off. “Heavenly
Father, I've done everything I can. I've done my miles, I've worked on the
nutrition, I've hydrated, I'd read books, I had a support system. I need You to
carry me through this race." And even as I was struggling so much and
going up that hill and, truthfully, being quite scared, I was praying; “You
have to carry me through this, I need Your strength.”
I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that Heavenly Father could
have given me the strength I needed. He could have helped me run that tiny bit
faster so that I could reach that cut off point. But He didn't. And as I was
finishing those miles, I knew in my heart that I was doing the race the way
that I was meant to do it. The lessons I learned, the life changing perspective
I received could not have been learned if I would have crossed that finish
line.
Of course my family and Alesa didn’t let me down on my
finish line. They were there cheering for me. Mick gave me a medal and they had
a sign they had made the night before. It was only us, it was much quieter
finish line than I had anticipated, but it was MY finish line! And I was proud
of my accomplishment but most of all my decision to choose to finish something
that most people wouldn’t have even started.
I later found out that the medal was a Katie original. She
knew that I needed a medal, so as they were walking away from the marathon
route she saw a sign in the garbage that had a big silver star on it, she took
that. Then scrounged around our van for something to add to it, she found paper
flowers and even a piece of yarn so I could hang it around my neck. Oh how I
love this girl and I’m so proud of the sensitive caring woman that she is
becoming!
Even though the sign was made the night before, it was the
most appropriate sign for this adventure!
