Tiffany Runs A Marathon
I am still in awe that I completed a marathon! Before I share about this amazing experience let me first say thank you for all the support on this crazy, surreal journey. I promised to come back and share my experience so here we go! As previously shared I had some rough runs leading up to this marathon. I struggled through the 18 mile run and I literally pushed my way through the 20 miler. I had been transitioning to a new position for work. I was selling a house, buying a house and living between my former and current district. There was a lot of moving pieces but I was determined to finish what I started!
The week leading up to the marathon I had an 8 mile run for my long run. That proved to be my best run towards the end of my training. I was so extremely proud and thankful as I was starting to doubt my ability to run this race. Flying to Savannah, GA was wonderful as I met so many other women who were going to run Every Woman’s Marathon too, many of them first time marathoners similar to me. I started to feel comfortable and relaxed. I knew I could do it and I had already starting to meet people with similar aspirations as me. The day before the race there were several shakeout runs. One at 7:30, 8:30, and 9:30. I decided to run the Fleet Feet shakeout after breakfast. I met a few women and ended up running with them. It was so exhilarating to meet so many women out there to run. We ran a trail along the water that provided a beautiful view. Then we went to the bib pick up. Picking up my bib, taking part in a yoga session, cooking session and the vendor fair was so refreshing. Imagine more than 7,000 women together taking part in a run as a collective and not competitors was inspiring. I truly felt like I really can do this! Me. Tiffany. About to run a marathon.
Race Day!
Saturday morning was everything. I got up. Ate my breakfast and walked to the start of the race. Imagine over 7000 women at the starting line; all shapes, sizes, and colors all for a common goal…to complete the marathon. There were some first timers (over 40%) and some who regularly ran marathons. We had 10 waves and I chose wave 9 based off of my pace. There was so much excitement in the air. I was excited and nervous at the same time. My daughter took pictures of me and started tearing up even before the race. She was proud. That made me proud and inspired me to make sure I finished! The race started and they counted down each wave. When they called us up I knew it was game time. I started my run and felt so free. As we headed into mile 1 not even half way in there was a lady who was down. It looked like she sprained her ankle. I just saw tears as she was with the medic. My heart hurt for her as I knew how much training and time went into preparing for this one moment. We kept running and there were a group of female bikers revving their motors and cheering us on. There were girl scouts, a high school drum line, DJs, volunteers, sponsors, community members and people standing in their yards cheering us on at each mile. To tell you that I felt supported was an understatement! While I was running I also had my own personal cheerleader. My daughter cheered me on at mile 1. Then she found me at mile 5. I was so surprised and proud. Later at mile 12 she met me with another family who recorded me running and cheered me on as if they knew me. Again my heart was full and I felt motivated to keep pushing. At mile 16 she was there again cheering me on and let me know she’d meet me at the finish line. However, at mile 20 I had a surprise waiting for me; one of my closest friends of 40 years drove 4 hours from the Carolinas to see me run. She and her friend cheered me on when I felt myself fading. I was tired and did not feel like running any more. They cheered me on and gave me life. I was so encouraged and determined to finish strong. After mile 20 I made a friend from New York. This was her third marathon and she stayed with me the rest of the run. I needed that angel. She was a gem who kept me going even when I felt I needed to walk. She talked me through my last five miles. She even recorded me running the end of my race across the finish line. As I made my way to the finish line I was in so much disbelief that I was about to finish my first marathon. I literally crossed the line and started crying. I did it! I accomplished a goal that I dreamed about but never thought I could complete years ago. Over the last year this journey to prepare for this marathon changed my life and how I see myself. I am a marathoner. I am a runner. I can do hard things. I can do anything I put my mind too. Even when my mind or others tell me that I cannot. I CAN!
As I reflect on that experience I’m continually encouraged to continue to take care of my physical and mental temple. This was one of the hardest things I have ever done in my life. Yes. It was hard but it was so worth it. And yes; I will definitely do it again! As I prepare to end this year and prepare for the coming year I have set some other physical goals that will assist me to become the woman I aspire to be. I know that I have a ways to go on my physical and mental journey and I will accomplish them. I hope sharing my experience has encouraged you and inspired you to be a better version of yourself as you serve students, families and communities. As educators we have to ensure we care for ourselves and find an outlet to do it in. Let’s finish this year stronger than we started. We’ve got this…together!
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