Finding Strength in Unexpected Ways

A few weeks after my divorce  was finalized, I ran a half marathon ran on my favorite trail, that fell on what would of been my 28th year wedding anniversary.  It was a good way to celebrate that I had strength and could continue onward in life. Every year since then, I’ve ran the same race to prove to myself I’m still strong enough for life as I know it.  Each year getting a little bit faster time. This year, due to my leg injury, I was unable to run it. Yesterday,  I drove past the start line of it and watched people getting ready as I was headed up north to run “just a 5k”, I felt totally defeated. 

 The Inspiring Hope Run is a great race, well ran and for an incredible cause. I have driven almost 90 minutes to run it for about 7 years now and it is always fun. It is usually held Mother's Day weekend, however this year it was moved to the same time as my annual half marathon. I was happy to have something in place for that day and figured I could walk 3 miles if I had to. 

My daughter and I had both not slept well the night before so we were both exhausted before it even began. She teased me that she was going to go from the start to the car, take a nap and jump back in a little while later to finish. I even offered her the car keys.  As we rushed to the starting line, the gloom was still around me as I still felt the defeat that I wasn't going to accomplish my goal this year, I just wasn't strong enough.. Little did I know as the start gun went off, that for me this year was more than just running a 5k for a good cause. It taught me that being strong is not in the distance of the race, it’s what you do in those miles. 

This year, I made a new friend in a young boy who ran the first mile and kept asking if I was going to ever walk, met up with mentors, friends and even the race director recognized me, spent time with my amazing daughter and watched her take off and leave me in the dust (when she was worried about making it) and totally kill it, without taking the nap. I learned I could run again, something I wondered if it would ever be possible. It might not have been the time or miles that I wanted, but I finished with only a little pain and it ended up being the shot of "inspiring hope" and realization of strength that I so desperately needed.  

Keep remembering that you are strong enough!!

XOXO

Tiffanee