Run Your Race

Once every four years countries from all over the world come together to compete and celebrate at the Olympic Games. This time London has the privilege of hosting the 2012 games.

We watch on as elite athletes achieve amazing things, breaking world records and setting new standards in their chosen discipline.They stand on a podium, with tears often flowing, as they receive their medal and praise. A moment in time when all their efforts are brought to fruition. We see them on their best day, standing proud. As spectators we know that this podium moment has taken vast amounts of determination and commitment.
  
In 2006 my cousin and I took part in the Cardiff Half Marathon. I will remember that day forever, but maybe not for the reason you imagine.

I started training for this event in January of the same year. I was very overweight and had not ran a yard since leaving school. In the beginning training was tough, really tough, I hurt in places I didn't know you could hurt. As the months past my fitness improved and I began to enjoy my daily exercise regime. Later in June I realised that although I was getting fitter I was not going to be able to run a half marathon. So, undeterred I joined a local speed walking group and continued to train with them.

The much anticipated day finally arrived. I was ready, I had completed my training schedule including a 15 mile walk 2 weeks previously. My cousin and I got up early and made our way to Cardiff.

It was a cool dry day, perfect conditions. We stood in a huge crowd of other competitors waiting and eager to start. The starting pistol was heard and 10 minutes later we crossed the start line and began our race.

For the first two miles we were in a very large but decreasing pack of people. Gradually the group around us got smaller and smaller as other competitors hit their running stride and took off. Then it got smaller and smaller again. The group dwindled till it was just my cousin and I. Alone.
No one around us.

Nobody.

It slowly dawned on us that we were last. I'm not talking near the back, I mean we were the last two competitors. (I should add here that I was the one making us last not my much fitter companion, thank you for staying with me Anna!) When you are last you are accompanied by two cyclists who ride right next to you to make sure you are safe. In that realisation moment I had to make a decision. Was I going to quit? Was I going to be so embarrassed that I give up and turn around? Was I going to get despondent and depressed, that even after training daily for 10 months I was last?
No!

No I didn't. I had the best time, with my cousin and our two cycling chaperone's. We were last and loving it. The traffic was still stopped for us, spectators still cheered and encouraged us, and I had the biggest smile on my face because I was walking my race and I was winning. I was winning by the very simple fact that I was there.

As the miles passed we began to pass other people that maybe ran at the start when they should have walked. We didn't finish first, we didn't finish last, but it had become unimportant. What was important, was that we were there, and we finished.

I don't know what "race" or "marathon" you are running. Maybe your race of endurance is illness, pain or depression. Maybe you are enduring loss or grief. Debt or uncertainty.Maybe you are studying, working for a promotion? Or are you a parent, struggling with the demands of young children? What ever marathon you are running I want to encourage you to keep going! Your race, may feel like it will never end. That you are hurting in ways you didn't think possible. That you are running and not making any progress, that you're not sure if you can take another step.

Keep going!

Keep going because this marathon that you are in will end and you will get your podium moment when you finally see the fruit of all your hard work, grit determination and perseverance. Keep going, you are making progress, you will get there, you will make it and what a glorious day it will be.

Thank you for reading.
Clare