If you keep on believing...

13.1 miles... I drive farther than that just to go to work each day but running that far seemed like an impossibility, a distance my body would never permit. Well, this weekend I proved myself wrong! The impossible was possible!

On Saturday morning, I awoke at 3am to join 17,000 other runners for the Walt Disney World half marathon, a very humid run from Epcot to Magic Kingdom (of course, we ran through the castle) and back to Epcot. Despite my anxiety all week, that morning I was amazingly calm which is unusual for me with any race distance. 

By my side was my dear friend, Mary. We both had our doubts about completing the race and we both had our reasons why we wanted to complete it. In the weeks leading up to the race we seemed to take turns being the one to question whether this was a good idea, having injuries, and getting distracted from our training. In the end it was our determination to achieve this goal and our commitment to each other that got us on that starting line.

For the first 11.5 miles, I would say that it was the best run I have ever had. I was relaxed. I wasn't playing head games with myself. I wasn't panicked about whether I was going too fast or too slow for Mary. I was just enjoying where we were. The last mile and a half when my quad started cramping? Well, that was another story. But...the story has a happy ending because it was then that Mary really pushed me to not quit.

I didn't realize it until that evening at dinner but Mary had been mentally struggling for the first miles of the race. Sometimes it is hard to get your head into the race. When that happens, it is a challenge to put one foot in front of the other. Because she was struggling, she was relying on me. I had no idea!

In the end, I accomplished a feat I did not think would ever happen...and considering all the road blocks that kept popping up, it would have been easy to walk away from attempting to achieve it. Along with my lungs telling me to not attempt this race, I was beginning to think Fate was telling me to give it up as well. Two years ago, I ruptured my calf muscle before this race. Last year I contracted mono. Less than two months before this year's race, I developed plantar fasciitis. 

By believing in and pushing for a dream, I proved the impossible was possible. As Cinderella would say..."Have faith in your dreams and someday your rainbow will come shining thru. No matter how you heart is grieving if you keep on believing the dream that you wish will come true...."