You all are so awesome!!
I won Clydedale Female Champion in the Whitestone 30k. I came in third overall female and the first Clydesdale. The Clydedale division is for female runners over 150 lbs. The thinking is it takes us heavy runners longer due to our stocky build. And it does, this race took me 1/2 hours to finish. It was a punishing course, all hills on back country roads in Roane County.
From mile 11 thru mile 13, I was in deep prayer. Asking for strength to meet my goals, finishing the race, making a difference in the world I live in, reaching my fundraising goal to help find cure and treatment for those suffering from leukemia. The pain I was in that day matters very little compared to the pain and heartbreak endured from the leukemia patients and their familes. especially the children who struggle with this disease.
In the racing world, I am certainly not a hero. I am slow, heavy set and make the volunteers wait while I struggle along. But like the Clydesdale horse, I am strong and detirmine. I always get there. So far, I have never DNF'd (Did Not Finish, race term, happens a bunch in the long races like the 30k)
I sincerely hope, all of you will strive to meet your own goals to make a difference in the world we live in! Never give up!
And to quote my sport's hero Lance Armstrong. "Pain is temporary, quitting lasts forever"