EIGHTEEN MILES. Count with me...1, 2, 3...It took me 3 1/2 hours to run (I'm slow, I know). But slow or not, I still did it. But it was a beating. My usual cheerleader, my hubby, was out of town. He's always so good at getting me out the door early Saturday mornings and reassuring me that yes, I CAN do this thing. Then when I come home, he has my post-run drink (Accelerade, not a margarita) and a hot jacuzzi bath ready for me to slide into. It's a treat!
It's also a comfort to know he's home and if I were to fall or hurt myself (which, yes, I've done), I can call him and he'll come find me. And it's also good to know that should I have a melt down over the mileage, he might come get me. (Not that I would have a melt down over running a gazillion miles...)
But since he was gone this weekend, I called on 3 girlfriends who live kind of spaced out along my running route. I asked them to be "on call" for me in case I did something stupid or decided I was doing something stupid by training for a marathon at my age. They all said, "Yes," so I felt better about running the distance I had to cover.
Well...they not only were my go-to girls, but they became my cheerleaders! One drove by (she's done this before and it's totally awesome) and yelled encouragement out her car window. She did this twice. Pretty awesome since I was starting to fade at the more than halfway mark. Then as I turned the corner to the local high school (4 miles left), I saw a parked minivan and a fabulous pink sign that said, "Go Lori!" It was just what I needed to finish my run!
So maybe I am not part of the community that I used to be a part of, but I have a community of some pretty amazing women friends who love me and encourage me. What more could I ask for?? Thanks Kris, Michelle and Ellen. Your love brings tears to my eyes as I type this blog. I feel so special and privileged to call you all "friends." You all refresh my soul.
"(S)he who refreshes others will (herself) himself be refreshed." Proverbs 11:25b
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3 comments:
Wahoooo!!! Lori!!!! Wahoooo!!!!
I've got my cyber-markers out and I'm making a cyber-poster for you now :-) RUN, LORI, RUN!
I'm so encouraged by you - and excited to get back to running. I did a short (1.5 miles) walk/jog with Zango this morning and it was really nice to just MOVE... only a couple more weeks and I'll be running again!!
Love you, friend!
Wow, Congratulations! That is a huge accomplishment! So great to have friends cheering you on!
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