It Takes A Village...

My Dad and friend Julie, are literally holding me up.

After I complete most runs longer than a mile, I find that my balance becomes frustrated,

but only really once I stop running... today was no exception.

So I had a plan in approaching the 5K run today and for the most part I stuck with it. I broke it a little last night by not getting to bed by nine o'clock. It was well worth it though. 

I convinced my Dad that he’d love to be my date (seeing as how my husband is currently deployed) to a benefit event for the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation. 

At this event it was announced via a representative of our local government for Utah that September 25th (Chris Reeve’s birthday) would now be recognized as Christopher Reeve Day for his and his family’s efforts in motivating and inspiring those that have been impacted by spinal cord injury and paralysis. 

It was a very nice and worthwhile event. I was able to actually meet Christopher’s mother - way cool! So last night I fell asleep thinking about the things I had heard and experienced from the Reeve Foundation event.

When my alarm sounded, it rang in a vivid memory of a little tom-girl, whose parents took her to see the Superman movie (starring Christopher Reeve) after having bought her a new pair of tennis shoes. 

After the movie this little tom-girl (i.e., me) ran around the house, yard, and neighborhood thinking that the shoes, in conjunction with her newfound superhuman strength, were making her run faster. 

But now, as an adult, I’ve come to the quiet realization that, I know I can do it. I’ve run so much in preparation for this. This is nothing more than just another run. 

I’m not superhuman, I’m just determined not to let my ailing body win this go-around. Today I got to win [insert huge grin here].

My only goal was to finish without having walked any of it. I got to the race, meditated, stretched and some of my friends and family started to arrive to join me and cheer me on. 

Physically and mentally this was my best run to date. I had the best 5K play list sounding in my ear and I simply tuned out the world and enjoyed my run. 

I not only ran without stopping or walking, but felt good the entire time (minus one scary moment going down the last hill). I bested my practice time by nearly six minutes (total run time 35.19 minutes). But I didn’t do this alone.

There’s an old proverb that states: “It takes a whole village to raise a child.” This indeed was the case for me, but recently I’ve seen that, it also takes an entire support group to help an individual succeed. 

I feel like I’ve won something so much bigger than a Grammy or Emmy Award, so I feel inclined to give an acceptance speech...

Thank you, to those who believed in and motivated me. Bill & Meagan for simply even coming up with the idea that I should try running with a jogger stroller to help lend balance. 

To my brother-in-law, DC for figuring out how to properly weight the darn stroller to work best for me. For various family members and distant friends (via Facebook) for believing that I can do this. 

For my trainer, Dave, who consistently motivates me and kicks my butt. Jeanie and Julie, who have supported me on countless training runs. 

And for Josh, who has continually and energetically supported me with his heart and soul - though currently on a Middle East deployment, he’s done everything he can to make me feel like I’m a better and stronger person than who I see in the mirror. 

And to God, for giving me the strength, energy, and determination in the first place.

I am blessed. Thank you!