Nice Girls Do Finish Last

A little backstory...

My brother-in-law Lance at Christmas announced that he was going to train for a marathon. He began his quest in January and Tommy quickly followed training in February. About mid-June, I decided that I would train to WALK a half marathon. The three of us signed up to participate in the Crossroads half marathon in Odessa which took place this last weekend.

I found a training program: www.halhigdon/halfmarathon/walk.htm and began training. My best friend, Shar walked with me during the week and the long weekend walks, often meeting at 4 or 5 in the morning to walk. The program lasted 12 weeks

That takes us to the half marathon day. I was pretty nervous, not knowing what to expect, but knowing that I would finish no matter what. It was an unbelievable day with amazing cool weather and low breezy clouds. As the starting gun went off and the serious runners pulled out of the starting gate, I was content to be way in the back...walking...just me and ..... Oh, yeah, no one! I was dead last! Actually, I wasn't all alone, as the last lone marathoner, I had a police escort about the first 6 miles, as they were pulling up pylons and signs as I passed by. One policeman asked, "are you doing the half?"

"Yes," I answered, "and I'm walking the whole way!" I'm sure the entire Odessa police force was glad that I was not going to walk a full marathon.

Things were going quite well, when about mile 2, my right calf began to ache. Now, mind you, I've never walked 13.1 miles, but I had walked plenty, including a 10 miler in my training. I never have had any trouble, except the occasional blister. Mile 4 it was really hurting and by mile 6 I was praying that I could finish. Eventually, the pain went into numbness and I kept forging ahead.

Shar texted me words of encouragement throughout the race, my favorite was "YOU ROCK". Funny enough, I happened to be in the port-a-potty when I received that text, hardly feeling like a rockstar!

About mile 10, Tommy, the peeps, Mimi, Poppy and Lance found me on the course and cheered me on to the end. I crossed the finish line at 4 hours and 29 minutes and 35 seconds. Placing 152nd out of 152. Lance placed 1st in his age division, with Tommy placing 3rd. They placed 32nd and 40th overall in the half. We all got medals and the kids did a fun run. Here are a few things I learned in doing the half marathon:

I'll start with what I lost, besides a race, about 20 pounds and 2 toenails.

Realizing that accepting the notion that I'm a bp (born procrastinator) can be a state of mind and not a state of being.

12 weeks pass by just the same if you are doing something or if you aren't doing something, time is time, it is up to us how to utilize it.

Healthy habits are contagious, just think, Lance began, Tommy followed, I followed, Shar followed, our kids ran the fun run... and on and on.

The most important thing I learned, which is an important lesson for me and for our children. Unlike the infamous quote of Ricky Bobby, 'if you're not first, you're last', there is something to be said for finishing something, no matter how long the journey.

Being last, someone has to be you know.

And even being last, I still won!

Kids walking to the start line for their 100 yard dash.
And they are off!

The overachievers of the Wood family - Tommy and Lance

The four of us with our medals!