4 jersey walls, 3 scrapes to my leg and hands and 10 miles later, I completed the Army 10 Miler.
It was a rough start as races go. I didn't get to the race as early as I had hoped and was rushing to get to the start on time, hence the jersey wall climbing. I noticed a girl looking at my hand as we waited for the gun at the starting line and realized my hand was bleeding. Pretty sure the skin I was missing was probably back on the last jersey wall. Finally we were moving and my thoughts went to other things then the stinging sensation on my finger and shin. At the beginning of every race I do the same thing. I look around and size up the competition. I know I'm not the fastest runner but there's still a competitive side in me. A few miles into a race I usually find someone that I'm running next to or behind and I check out their form, compare our paces and of course, see what type of sneakers they're wearing. Today I found myself in back of a girl who wore shirt that read, "Steel Horse". Miles later I lost her but still found myself looking for her, "Where's Iron Horse, or was it Iron Fist? Where did the Iron Curtain go?"
As you can guess by the name the race had a military theme. I saw many soldiers who served both past and present. One of the many noteworthy characteristics about the military is their sense of "we". They always have each other's backs and look out for one another. Along the way I was motivated by genuine acts of teamwork and support. Lots of people cheering on in the crowds flanking the street which comprised of proud spouses and children holding posters for their loved one that was running. But the most motivating people were the people I was running next to.
I wasn't able to stick to the training plan I created and ended up doing my longest run at only 8 miles. I would worry about how to get through the last two on race day. How did I do it? I willed myself. I started visualizing the word BELIEVE. And yes, it worked. There were times when I thought I felt a cramp coming on but I just stuck to my mantra of "believe". I also found myself changing the lyrics to the song, "I could really use a wish right now" to "I could really use a downhill now", that helped too. Around mile 4 I saw a man on the side of the road. He was sitting down and changing his prosthetic leg, both of them. He had a team of people surrounding him that we're helping him and cheering him on. I saw several other wounded warriors out on the 10 mile stretch. Some of them running with one prosthetic, some of them had two. All of them were running fast, a lot of them faster than me, but all of them were out there giving this race their all. None of them were complaining about a cramp, threatening to stop. My inspiration had been found.
It's amazing what the human mind can do. When you focus on something, will yourself to keep pushing and visualize successfully completing a goal it can really happen. And when that doesn't work, take a look around to see how other people are accomplishing their goals. Cramps, a rough start or a skinned shin are both minor and fleeting. I'm fortunate to be able to run races. I think it's sad that a lot of people who are inactive don't realize the natural gifts and talents their functioning bodies afford them. Whatever your activity is, be it walking, running or biking, it's important to do it with purpose and to push yourself. If you don't ever push your body once in a while you'll never really know what your capable of physically. Be thankful for your body and treat it well, you only get one.
I dedicate this blog to the men and women in our military who ran this race today, to those who are serving in a war and couldn't be here to run and to those we have lost in the war that were never given the opportunity.
