The night before, she is restless.
She is altogether nervous and anxious all rolled into one.
She fidgets through the night, awaiting for her eyes to get heavy enough to get some much needed rest. But rest does not come easy to her tonight. She heads to bed at 10 pm, only to stay awake till the wee hours of the morning.
She doubts herself,
she doubts her abilities,
and she is left wondering, why?
Why does she even need to do this race?
What is this gonna prove?
Why does she need to do this?
Why do you even like running?
More importantly, why do you like running during the winter?
She really didn't have many answers.. just that, she loved this strange addiction of running. Nothing to prove to anyone, only to herself, that there is simply nothing you cannot do. That alone became the driving force for her first ever.. 5K.
The alarm is set for 7:30 but she is already up before it goes off.
No yawning or stretching and saying, "oh what a gorgeous day!"
It was more like, jumping out of bed to look out the window, then to her phone to see the temperature.
10 Degrees.
She becomes her very own cheerleader, encouraging herself that she can do this.
"Come on, you've ran in colder weather before.. you can do this!"
She is not sure what to eat.. "I should've googled it," she thought. Then opted for a mini wheat bagel with peanut butter.
She's tanking down water, only to go pee again. "I'm just like those 'pee-pee' dolls," she thought.
"I just hope I don't pee myself.."
**********
The roads are blocked.
She is restless.
It's showtime.
She has to walk to the starting point. She gets out of the car, trembling in the cold. Searching for anyone with a running bib on, anyone? There they are, huddled around Starbucks. People of all ages. She enters Starbucks to stay warm. "I'm sure I'm not the only one coming in here and not buying anything she thought.." Her eyes roam around checking out the people. Some people are dressed up because it's a 'fun-run' and most are equipped with warm gear. She over hears a bunch of young ladies talking about how cold it is outside on one table. In the other corner, a group of guys dressed up in green tights, giving attention to the new Android phone for ACS . A woman standing in the restroom line by herself. Good idea, she thought. (Tip one from her good friend, Lynne) "Go early so you can find a restroom," echoes in her head much like Dark Vader talking to Luke. Or switch that up, maybe Yoda giving advice "Bathroom you shall find and use." Either way, she was in line, about to let it go for the last time, hoping this will be enough.
**********
It's time.
She walks out into the starting point. She doesnt' see her husband yet. So she asks a stranger to take a photo of her. The crowd huddles in the starting point. She stands in the front, wondering if this is the best place to be. The announcer says, "The race will begin in 10 minutes.." That seemed like the longest and most anxiously awaited 10 minutes of her life. She finally sees her man, all bundled up, in the sidelines supporting her. He snaps away capturing this special day for her. She is delighted to see him.
As minutes turn into seconds, she is lost in the crowd that surrounds her. She is filled with questions as she wonders what it felt like to be trampled on? She wondered if she had to book it, so that she won't get trampled on.
"10, 9, 8.... 2, 1" The gun goes off.
And there she goes.
**********
Her first initial reaction was to 'book-it'... more afraid of being trampled on. After a few minutes of gaining speed, she knew that she had to slow down. This route was different, unfamiliar, all to new for this runner who likes routine. She has ran the same route for the past year, she knew how to approach the same hills, where to dodge the cracks on the ground, and at what point the music should be at certain points of her run. But this... this was new. She began to feel a bit overwhelmed at all the people that seem to appear out of the corner of her peripherals. To calm herself down she resorted to what she knew best. Her mind drifted to the music. "Imma Be," by the BEP was on. This is where she hits the corner of her block. She slowly envisioned the streets she had ran for so long. Passing the gas station, strolling through the hill on Provider. She was in her zone. Smiling and singing to herself, she focused on the runners in front of her.
The terrain was a difficult one. Ice stood between her feet and the gravel that tried to place traction for the runners. But still she noticed she slipped every now and then. And like the fellow runners, she steered toward the mounds of snow even though she had to lift her legs up more to "hop" over it.
"In the last leg of the race, focus on one person and keep up with them or try to outrun them.." A great advice from a fellow runner, stayed in her mind throughout the run.
She focused on the lady with the pink shirt and striped socks.. For the entire race, she was either behind her or passed her, either way, they remained close in distance.
**********
She finished the race without even realizing it and not paying attention to the huge time clock mounted on a truck in front of her. Luckily, her man had taken the photograph when she arrived.
A surge of endorphins with added elation came over her as she slowed down, ripping off her head phones. She's never felt more proud.. of this moment in her life. The best part, seeing her man, at the finish line, congratulating her despite getting off a mid-shift, made this moment mean so much more.
**********
She did it.
Another moment seized.
Never say never.
You can do anything, that you set your mind to.
The sky is truly the limit.
**********
On the ride home, she googles "upcoming races in anchorage".
Found one for April 24.
She's ready for more.
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