Today I accomplished
something I never thought I would ever want to achieve, I finished a half
marathon. Yep me, Lenora No Middle Name Hearst. To think when Crystal and Warren
asked me to get into running, I had only planned on participating in 5K and 10K
races, nothing more. But through their encouragement and the support of Black
Girls RUN! Dallas, especially Alice, Sarah, and Marilyn, and my coworker
Brandon, I was able to tackle my first half marathon. I finished the Big D
Texas Half Marathon in 2:44:47, 69th in my age group out of 98. Not
bad for a first timer. And I finished vertically and uninjured.
I am on such a spiritual
high. Today I had another spiritual connection to God through the weather. I
didn’t see the rain as a hindrance; it was a gift to keep me cool. The wind
that slowed me down at mile 6 was used to control my speed which helped me to
reserve my energy for the hills I was about to overtake. My running buddy,
Marilyn was a true Angel when it came to our last hill. I got into the middle
of this steep hill and just stopped; my legs shutdown. But instead of leaving
me, she came back to walk the hill with me. Soon after, we had a slight down
pour, but to me, it was the Angels crying with tears of joy because we overcame
every one of those hills. Around miles 10 and 11, the thunder started, but I
heard Angels running to the finish line to greet us as we crossed it.
The biggest joy, my BGR
sisters at the finish line cheering us through. Some of these ladies didn’t
even run today, but they made sure they would be at the finish line. It was a
celebration for us all. It was a first race distance for many of us. Our 5K
ladies completed their first of many races, and they now have their eyes set on
their first half marathon. They amazed themselves with their finishing times.
As for me, at this point in
life, the half is all I need to accomplish. I would like to travel to all 50
states to obtain a finishers medal in each state. Hopefully, Hubby-to-be will
have the same goal. But right now, I’ll just tackle the ones in Texas. I said
by my 50th birthday, I would have one half completed, well Bucket
List has another check mark.
Thank You Lord for blessing
me with a can do spirit and a mind to see a closed door to others as a door
that needs to be kicked down.
Before the race
Who said Black Girls Don't Run?
BGR Dallas Southsiders