Finished!

 

The morning of the Marathon came slowly.  I couldn't really sleep the night before.  Whenever I have to be up for something important like a flight, or a race I always worry about sleeping through the alarm.  I ended up waking up about every couple of hours looking at the clock, calculating in my half asleep mind how much time I had left before the bus picked up.  Finally at 4:30 I was up.  I got dressed, and Dan drove me to the bus which picked up around 5:00 am.  There were so many runners.  I looked around and noticed everyone was so different.  Different ages, body shapes and sizes.  It was cool that so many different people were about to accomplish the same goal.  Finishing!  Finishing, finishing, finishing was all that I could keep telling myself.  I didn't want to set myself up for failure by having some impossible goal for a time.  I just wanted to jog the whole way and enjoy the run.  I told myself no matter what if I just kept a modest pace and held back a little bit in the beginning it would make my life so much easier at the end when it gets tough.  As we reached to top of the race there were runners everywhere.  Imagine 6,000 runners feeling nervous, chilly, and excited.  The race was incredibly organized.  I don't have many races under my belt, but the few I've done paled in comparison to the organization of this race.  Apparently it's one of the older marathon's in the state, therefore it makes sense that they have this process down pat.  I started to talk to a lady who was waiting in line to use the bathroom.  She was an amazing runner who actually had a metal rod in her leg.  She always is in pain from it, but she pushes through because it's one thing that she can do with her son.  Wow talk about an amazing loving mom.  Mom's are the best, when it comes to the love that they have for their kids.  As I got into line for the start they were delayed in getting started.  It was still dark, and a little frigid so I left on my long sleeve shirt that I had layered over my tank top. The wait to start was probably the worst part (aside from the pain, and almost peeing my pants).  I stood there waiting and thinking about what I was about to try to do.  I thought about how much my knee's would hurt, how tired my muscles would feel, and most of all how it feels like when your legs just give out and refuse to go any further.  I knew it would be painful.  I new that it was going to be hard, I knew that I'd want to quit.  I started to reflect on how this feeling must have been similar to the pre-existence.  We lived in Heaven with God before our journey on this Earth.  We had never experienced real pain, or sorrow.  We were in a perfect realm with God.  We had never been tempted or tired.  We were told that Earth life would be painful, hard, and at times really sad.  But we were also told that in order to progress it was something we needed to experience.  We were told that if we just kept persevering we'd make it to the finish line and return with God again. .  I thought about all the faithful souls who had the faith and determination to follow God's plan. We weren't sure how hard Earth life would be but we followed God and Jesus Christ's plan and stepped up the starting line of Mortality.   It gives me strength to know that if I had the faith to start this mortal journey, then certainly somewhere deep inside I've got the faith to stay the course and finish my race, and return home to God.

 

It was a gorgeous day and I felt really good running.  At the beginning your adrenaline is really going so I tried to hold back, let myself warm up, and not push it at all.  I had a lot of people pass, but after the first  several miles you pretty much fall into the pack of runners who run with you the rest of the way.  I'm not very technical and failed to download my music to my new phone.  I thought it just automatically downloaded through the cloud or what ever it's called.  I soon found out that that's not the case.  I only had one album downloaded.  I love imagine dragons, but I just don't think I can bring myself to listen to their music anymore.  Let's just say by mile thirteen I was pretty tired of Radioactive song.  I knew I needed to find someone to talk to just to get my mind off of the millage.  I noticed three ladies talking, and their pace was good so I decided to run alongside and listen to them.  Sure enough I was able to jump in on the conversation without being to annoying..... I hope.  I ran with this group for awhile slowly one ran up ahead, and another fell back.  Me and Robin ended up running together all the way through.  She was so nice, and we made a pact to stick it out together if we possibly could. She was really well trained and kept me on pace.  I hope I helped her to stay determined too.  When we'd approach a hill we would just tell each other to just keep going no matter what. We talked about everything from friends, husbands, kids, temples, sports and training.  You name it we probably talked about it.  It was great it really helped pass the time and before I new it we were on mile eighteen.  As we approach mile twenty I saw some bathrooms.  I thought to myself I can't believe that I don't need to use it by now.  I usually need to stop to go( that should have been a red flag that I should stop and try to go, I'm a little dense I guess)  I passed it by thinking I was fine, but I would soon find out I was very wrong.   I was feeling great, my legs still had a lot of mileage left in them.  I was on cloud nine.  Dan and the kids were cheering me on at the mile twenty mark, and I couldn't have been feeling better.  That soon changed fast, by mile twenty-three I needed to go to the bathroom BAD.   I decided to try to push hard ahead to see if I could find one.  That was a bad idea.  I never came to a bathroom, and it made me need to go all the more, plus because I pushed it I had just killed my legs.  I started walking and a few minutes latter Robin passed me.  I think she was a little mad I went ahead.  I don't know if she understood my problem.  Well I had to walk quite a bit at the end just because I didn't want to pee my pants.  When I finally made it to the finish line Robin was right there waiting for me to finish.  She had finished five minutes before myself.  I was so touched that she cared enough to be there for me at the finish line.  We took pictures, and hugged.  I was really happy for her.  Dan, the kids, and Dan's parents were all there too.  I couldn't have dreamed of more support.  They were there cheering me on at two different places along the race, and at the finish line.  I don't know how they did it.  The course was very crowded and it was hard to find parking, especially with four little kids in tow.  I have the best family in the world.  I also have the most amazing supportive husband.  He is a great guy, how did I ever get so lucky to have him?  I was totally elated about my experience.  It took me four and a half hours.  That was actually a pretty good time for me.  I'm not a fast runner and I have always been around a ten minute pace.  I told my self if I could finish around a ten minute per mile pace I totally delighted!  I had done it, I had finished, I hadn't stopped.   It was truly an experience of a lifetime.  I'm so glad I did it, but I am also so glad that it's over.  I wonder if that's the way we will feel when we finish our journey on earth and are reunited with God.

 

  There are so many parallels between marathons and life.  I started to reflect on my running friend.  I had met her during the race.  Robin was with me almost the entire way.  We had helped each other and pulled each other along.  We didn't however, finish at the same time together.  And so it is with life.  We have loved ones, family and friends. We run our life's marathon's with each other.  We pull each other along helping and lifting each other.  None of us finish at the same time.  Some of us have short races, and others are left behind to finish alone.  But we will be reunited at the finish line of heaven.  I know and testify that God has a plan for us.  Our plan is to have the faith to stay the course and finish the race.  What a grand and glorious finish line there will be in heaven.  I don't think our mortal minds can really wrap our brains around the joy and peace we will feel when we are reunited with our Creator.  Last thought.  On my medal it says "St. George Marathon Finisher " that is my new motto for life.  I'm going to be a finisher and make it back to God.  It doesn't matter the pace, it doesn't matter the style.  All receive the same reward for finishing the journey.