Running with a Crew

There was just enough of a chill in the air to make my teeth chatter, had I not been running.  The wind was blowing pretty hard, too.  We were around mile 9 when I passed a couple of girls.  I heard one say to the other, "I could never run alone."  I'm not sure she was talking about me, but I did appear to be alone. 

"I'm not running alone, girl.  I've got a pack of folks running with me." 

See, while it may have appeared I was running 13.1 miles alone, that could not have been farther from the truth. 

• I had my friends at home who'd sent me texts and facebook messages and posts encouraging me, telling me they were praying for me and would be looking for me to text them when I crossed the finish line.
• My family had encouraged me all along, kept Molly when Tim and I ran our long runs together, kept Molly over the weekend while we ran this race.
• I had this star in my shoe that was a total God-send a few weeks before that reminded me my Daddy knows.

• I knew Tim was a mile or two ahead of me, and his words of encouragement and coaching all along the way echoed in my head over and over and over again. 
• I had my worship music blaring in my ears as I ran.  I'd prayed and prayed and prayed while I ran, and I knew my God was with me, too.  That was never more evident than when I crossed the finish line and the words, "oh no, you never let go" were singing in my ears. 

I crossed the finish line at 2:21, and I was pumped!  My goal was 2:30.  My pace was steady, and I felt great!  I was so esctatic!

Tim had crossed the finish line before me, with a time of 2:12.  Rockin' it!

I'm so very thankful for my family and friends who are my biggest cheerleaders and encouragers.  Y'all ran this half, too.  And I thank you!

I need you, too, 'cause this girl?  Is totally addicted!