Brutal Battles

"Running has given me the courage to start, the determination to keep trying, and the childlike spirit to have fun along the way. Run often and run long, but never outrun your joy of running."
---Julie Isphording, Marathon winner

Somedays you hit the pavement and running is fun and easy. Everything in the universe, it seems, lines up correctly. You feel great, empowered, and energized. Yesterday was, unfortunately, not one of the those days. Courage and determination were certainly present, but I'll have to work in order to add the "fun" Julie Isphording mentioned into the equation.

I set out to run yesterday's 10K, a distance of 6.2 miles, between 50-55 minutes. I finished within my goal. My "official" time, according to the New Orleans Track Club website, was 54:55. My real time, however, was 54:35. In spite of the use of chips --- a means to accurately measure when participants finish the race --- the chip failed to properly record the correct time I crossed the start line, 20 seconds after the official clock began to tick. But no sweat, I know my true time and that's all that matters.

Yesterday's run, all things considered, was a success. It served to help me become familiar with how races operate. I'd never heard of a chip prior to yesterday. I also have a better idea of how early I should arrive at the Mardi Gras marathon in order to prepare in a way that will allow me to feel comfortable. And because I started to have breathing problems (enter my friend asthma) only a couple of miles into the race, I should probably schedule another appointment to more aggressively treat my asthma in the upcoming weeks.

Due to my lack of oxygen issue at mile two, the remaining 4.2 miles were truly a test of my mental tenacity. That's what I've come to appreciate and love about running. In years past, my commitment to running was sporadic at best. When I ran, vanity motivated most of the miles I logged each week. But during the course of the last year, and particularly in the past two months, the mental challenges have me hooked.

I read that once running gets into your blood it's there for life. The difference from my first race in October, the Race for the Cure, and the Larry Fuselier Race yesterday was the type of individuals who signed up to compete. Most of yesterday's participants were life-long runners --- it was clear from their respective physiques. And it was nice to see a lot of couples who've shared, among other things, a life-long passion for running.

My favorite part of the race occurred around mile 2.5, right in the midst of my asthma flare up. I truly battled with the idea of walking for a couple of minutes. As my brain was fighting with my body, a man --- who by a generous estimate was in his late sixties, but more likely his early seventies --- passed me. As he edged by, he uttered these wonderful words of encouragement, "You can do this. You are doing terrific." His two sentences kept me going. It was clear this man had the "courage" to start running years ago, the "determination" to stick with it, and most of all still knew how to capture the "child-like spirit" to keep it "fun" along the way.

I hope my newfound passion for running continues to seep into my blood. I also hope, in forty years, I'm able to run by a thirty year old woman and utter similar words that instill confidence in her abilities and enable her to finish the race both strong and proud.