IT
If you want IT, you can have IT. But you have to believe in IT to achieve IT.
So do IT, be IT and don’t stop until you reach IT!
What is your IT and how bad do you want IT?
half marathon
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Unwritten
As I was running my half marathon last week, the most amazing song popped up on my ipod just when I needed it the most. I don’t remember downloading the song much less putting it on my playlist. Just when I thought I couldn’t take another step, Natasha Bedingfield’s “Unwritten” started playing in my earbuds.
I am unwritten, can’t read my mind, I’m undefined
I’m just beginning, the pen’s in my hand, ending unplanned
Staring at the blank page before you
Open up the dirty window
Let the sun illuminate the words that you could not find
Reaching for something in the distance
So close you can almost taste it
Release your inhibitions
Feel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins
The rest is still unwritten
As I listened to the song along mile 10, I realized that at that moment and time I was in the process of writing my own book. I was mid-chapter and it was up to me how I wanted the chapter to end. Up until this point I was enjoying my race – taking in the beautiful views, focusing on my breathing and feeling the ground under my feet. But then I hit a wall (which I would later realize was because I forgot to eat my energy gel). I was allowing the pain & exhaustion to take over my mind and I was pushing the fun of the experience out. Was that how I wanted to remember the story of my first 1/2 marathon? Not really – I wanted a great story to add to my book. How I finished this race was up to me. It was MY experience to have and no one could have it for me.
As the song ended, I took a deep breath and felt it fill up my lungs. I was going to finish this race my way – strong and proud of myself. I felt it coming on…..my second wind. I picked up my pace, felt the sun on my back and put one foot in front of the other. With each step I was writing and MAN DID I WRITE AN AWESOME STORY!!! My chapter titled “Unwritten” ended with me crossing the finish line of my first half marathon feeling energized, strong and proud of the experience that I made and wrote for myself.
The Little Engine That Could
I’m a big fan of tooting your own horn. Seriously, how can you expect anyone to cheer for you if you’re not even on your OWN team? If you accomplish something, be proud and give yourself a pat on the back! If you want something and you are dedicated and focused enough to work hard to reach that goal, then you deserve a cheering section – even if it’s just you cheering!
So here I go – TOOT! TOOT! This weekend I accomplished a huge goal that is over a year in the making. I finished my first half marathon!!!! I, Tera “short legs” Busker, ran 13.1 miles!!!
Last spring I planned to run my first half marathon in Stillwater. I was registered, I was prepared, I felt good and then 1 week before the race I got injured and had to drop out. It was a major disappointment, but I healed and started planning for another race. Fast forward to March 2010. I was registered, prepared and packed to travel to Orlando. Florida to run my SECOND first half marathon – the Disney Princess 1/2 Marathon. 2 days before boarding the plane I was hit with the flu. Again…..really? So, I was out of another race. The first day I felt like a human again, I went online and I found THE RACE. The THIRD first half marathon that come hell or high water I WOULD RUN – The Eau Claire Half Marathon. I had trained hard, I was ready, I felt good and secretly I kept waiting for something to happen that would stop me from running, but nothing did. So, on a beautiful May morning in Eau Claire, Wisconsin I ran 13.1 scenic miles along the river and I ROCKED IT!!!! I’m not gonna lie, at one point I thought my legs would fall off, but the most amazing song popped up on my playlist (which is another great story that I will share in a later post) that gave me a 2nd wind. I finished strong by chugging up a steep hill, sprinting across the line and finishing in 2 hours, 5 minutes and 16 seconds. Again – TOOT! TOOT!
I feel incredibly blessed to have been able to run my first half marathon with a great friend and to have had my family (the best cheering section in the WHOLE world) there to cheer me on. It made of a memorable day! Prior to writing this, I signed up for my SECOND half marathon. The Uff-da (can you tell it’s a race in Wisconsin?) which will be held in 2 weeks. I can’t wait.
By the way – if anyone is reading this that also ran in Eau Claire, if you found my mind along the trail could you please return it?