It Seems Like a Dream - I Finished with a Time of 7 hours and 8 minutes and forty-four seconds!
I can hardly believe it's over. Kathy and I started out at 4:00am this morning with a group of other Fort Bend Fit walkers. The streets were not blocked off yet, so we had to maneuver down a very narrow pathway (single file) on the Elysian overpass. We also had to deal with the traffic lights and walk on dark sidewalks. Unfortunately, one of the ladies in the group tripped over an uneven sidewalk and got really banged up. Hopefully her fingers aren't broken. We stayed with her until she got up and insisted on resuming her walk. That also ate into our time, so for the first 4 miles, we were walking at an 18 minute mile pace, way over our projection. As we progressed into West University, the sun rose. The wheelchair entrants started passing us by as the spectators lined the streets cheering them on.
When we got to Weslayan and Westpark, Stan, Saul and Shelley were waiting to greet us to cheer us on. Kathy had some friends come to that location, too. It was very exciting. When we turned off Newcastle to the US59/610 feeder, the motorcycle police and the pace car passed by us and told us to move to the side because the lead, elite runners were approaching. Channel 13 was filming from their helicopter and we were actually on TV right next to the Kenyans.
When we got to 610 and Richmond we were once again greeted by our Crew. As we traveled down Post Oak boulevard, the crowds started growing and more and more runners started "catching up" with us. As we headed down towards San Felipe, Kathy's friends appeared again, and when we were close to Tanglewood, I was greeted by Stacey and Joe.
Stan, Saul and Shelley were on Chimney Rock and Woodway as we came around, shortly after Kathy had seen some of her tennis buddies.
Me Throwing a Kiss to my Crew (not the muscle man)
I can't tell you how uplifting and empowering it is to have the people you care about cheering you on. It is also amazing how the energy of the spectator crowd can bolster you through to the finish line. As we walked down Woodway. Memorial and Allen Parkway, our speed increased along with our determination. It was like being carried across the crowd through a mosh pit. I was determined that I would never "hit the wall" and although my body started aching, I never doubted that I would make it in. Signs I spotted along the way, especially the one that said "Pain is Temporary- Pride is Forever", really helped to keep me motivated as did multiple applications of BioFreeze gel.
When we passed under the I-45 at Allen Parkway, the George Brown Convention Center was a straight shot ahead. As I was remarking to Kathy and Wayne about it, a runner yelled over that we still had to make a left turn and go several blocks further before we would be on the home stretch. Once we made that left and then right onto Rusk, the red, white and blue Finish Line was visible, although it was still about a half mile away. I started to cry when I saw it. Kathy cautioned me that I had to look decent for our finish line photo, so I held back the tears. And as we approached the Finish Line, there was Stan, Shelley and Saul. I continued in, crossing the line with my hands up in the air, but once I crossed I started crying and could not stop, and neither could Kathy. George came to greet us and hug us and finally we sucked in our guts and got it together.
What a sense of accomplishment and what a high! After posing for a photo, we received our beautiful finisher's medal, finisher's shirt and crystal finisher's mug. The walk was worth the goodies alone!
We got in just after 11:00am and hung around to wait for Jacque, who left at 7:00am.With a goal of a finish of 6 hours or under, she was scheduled to arrive just before 1:00pm. We proudly cheered as she made it in with a chip time of 05:56:56.
What more can I say. Not only did I accomplish my goal of completing the Houston Marathon, but I exceeded my original fundraising goal of $1000 for the Houston Food Bank by raising $1540.
Scholar Hugh Nibley once said, "Only if you reach the boundary will the boundary recede before you. And if you don't, if you confine your efforts, the boundary will shrink to accommodate itself to your efforts. And you can only expand your capacities by working to the very limit."
I have achieved something that at one time I would have thought impossible. Thanks to each and every one of you for your unwavering support.
And remember - it's still not too late to donate to The Houston Food Bank.
Please consider contributing to this worthy cause:
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