Hospital Hill(s)

I started out the morning in complete denial and lack of desire to even begin this race. I received great encouragement from friends via text and of course my hubby was right there full of encouraging words for me. Then meeting up with my running family took a lot of pressure off of me to perform at an unrealistic pace for me at this point. Being delayed by rain was a pleasant calming and then the skies cleared and off we went. Started the race with a great group of peeps and by mile 3ish I was struggling, I needed this race to just be mine, hopefully I didn't offend by asking to be left to run alone. I had a ton of internal dialog going on making me want to quit with the difficult hills and rain that was coming down harder and harder with every step. But with every mile marker I passed I began to revel in the accomplishment. A great friend once said "Be In The Mile You're In" so I followed that advice by listening to other's conversations, actually looking up and taking in my surroundings, splashing through the puddles instead of avoiding them, and ticking away the miles conquered! To see my hubby along the course standing in the rain waiting for me without hesitation is something so amazing I can't even begin to explain what that means to me.Tucker came back for me at mile 9 to stand by his word and thankfully so, it made the rest of the miles just disappear. Then to pick up and run in that final stretch lined by my friends screaming and cheering me on was an amazing feeling!! To then be granted the honor of running with Stephen Losey, our Hospital Hill Hero, and a determined young lady running her first race just topped off the experience. To all of you who have made me feel like a part of your family and a true friend, to those that cheer me on no matter what my finish time is, to those that are there to hug me and tell me you're proud of me I couldn't continue to work harder and accomplish what I do without you!! It's because of all of you that I am finding all of me..Saturday, June 7th, I Conquered Hospital Hill(s)!!!