running

That's me in the pink, running my 3rd 1/2 marathon yesterday. I told my sister, after I ran my PR, that my only regret is not discovering something I love, and am good at, until so late in life. But I'm glad I found it. I'm hurting today, but, as I kept thinking throughout the entire race, "Pain is temporary; pride is forever."

Running has so many implications for life too -- perseverance, endurance, strength...

As I was on the home stretch yesterday, feeling like I'd never make it, my friend Laura found me. "How ya doing?" she asked. "I'm dying," I replied, ready to cry. "No you're not! You're talking clearly!" she yelled. "Run faster! You can breathe when you finish! See those balloons? That's the end! Run, Run faster!" She ran with me for about 500 yards before falling off -- she had already finished and turned around to find me. I ran with all I had left. And did far better than I expected to. If I hadn't found her, I wouldn't have. If I had found her a few moments earlier, I could have beat another goal I'd had -- beating a friends' time. What a picture of encouragment though! Isn't that what friends are for? Pushing us when we can't go on? When all seems lost? And then rejoicing with us when we surprise ourselves with success!