Tell it To Me Tuesday - Invincibility
So Jade's question this week is "has there ever been a time you felt powerful? Like you ruled the world for a day or even just a moment? Tell about a time you felt invincible or at least empowered."
I saw this post and new immediately the last time I was overcome with that feeling. I know I'm being redundant, but my experience was so empowering that I can't help but repeat.
It was hitting the top of the hill just shy of mile 7 during my half-marathon last October. I went into the race just wanting to finish. I hadn't trained very well. My motivation had been in the crapper for months before the actual race. I had trouble getting on the treadmill let alone going more than 3 miles. I was pretty defeated, but since T and I had paid the registration and hotel room already, I knew I couldn't throw that money away. That was the only thing motivating me to actually get to San Francisco. Okay, that at the Tiffany & Co. necklace. I really wanted that necklace.
So back to the race. The way my running brain works is that if I stop to walk in the middle of a run I have a hard time getting my momentum back to start running again. I remember passing the 3-mile mark in the race and thinking, "okay, this is where I usually fizzle out and stop, but I still have 10+ miles to go. Just keep going." So I did. And then I hit mile 4 and mile 5. I knew right after mile 6 the hill began. So I put my head down and just kept putting one foot in front of the other. I passed a ton of people on that hill. And when I got to the top of that hill, tears were brimming in my eyes and I almost had to stop because I was choked up. In my heart I didn't believe that I could do what I just did. I didn't have the confidence in myself to know that I could accomplish this feat. I had my "sisters" in my mind and in my heart that day. I was doing it, not only for myself, but for them. And that feeling of empowerment, of making it up that hill? That is what carried me through the 13.1 miles. I knew if I could run/jog that hill without stopping I could easily keep going until I got to the finish line. And you know what? I did.
And now here I am beginning official training for another half marathon. This time it is in San Diego and I am participating with 17 friends whom I've never met in person as part of The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Team In Training. I am sure that my sense of empowerment is going to increase at a minimum tenfold for this event.
I am fundraising and would appreciate any donation you can give. My TNT fundraising button is up there at right top of my side bar. There is also a link above that to my running blog which tells about my challenge to you. Maybe it will empower YOU!
Why don't you join Jade and myself and tell us about your moment of invincibility? Go to her place and link up!
I saw this post and new immediately the last time I was overcome with that feeling. I know I'm being redundant, but my experience was so empowering that I can't help but repeat.
It was hitting the top of the hill just shy of mile 7 during my half-marathon last October. I went into the race just wanting to finish. I hadn't trained very well. My motivation had been in the crapper for months before the actual race. I had trouble getting on the treadmill let alone going more than 3 miles. I was pretty defeated, but since T and I had paid the registration and hotel room already, I knew I couldn't throw that money away. That was the only thing motivating me to actually get to San Francisco. Okay, that at the Tiffany & Co. necklace. I really wanted that necklace.
So back to the race. The way my running brain works is that if I stop to walk in the middle of a run I have a hard time getting my momentum back to start running again. I remember passing the 3-mile mark in the race and thinking, "okay, this is where I usually fizzle out and stop, but I still have 10+ miles to go. Just keep going." So I did. And then I hit mile 4 and mile 5. I knew right after mile 6 the hill began. So I put my head down and just kept putting one foot in front of the other. I passed a ton of people on that hill. And when I got to the top of that hill, tears were brimming in my eyes and I almost had to stop because I was choked up. In my heart I didn't believe that I could do what I just did. I didn't have the confidence in myself to know that I could accomplish this feat. I had my "sisters" in my mind and in my heart that day. I was doing it, not only for myself, but for them. And that feeling of empowerment, of making it up that hill? That is what carried me through the 13.1 miles. I knew if I could run/jog that hill without stopping I could easily keep going until I got to the finish line. And you know what? I did.
And now here I am beginning official training for another half marathon. This time it is in San Diego and I am participating with 17 friends whom I've never met in person as part of The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Team In Training. I am sure that my sense of empowerment is going to increase at a minimum tenfold for this event.
I am fundraising and would appreciate any donation you can give. My TNT fundraising button is up there at right top of my side bar. There is also a link above that to my running blog which tells about my challenge to you. Maybe it will empower YOU!
Why don't you join Jade and myself and tell us about your moment of invincibility? Go to her place and link up!
i had a similar experience at my half. after passing the lady in the back brace at mile six, the hill started and mile 7 i think. it sucked. i passed people. mine was more of a trot than jog, but i never walked.
ReplyDeletei can even still remember the song on my IPod during the hill "You Can't Keep a Good Man Down" by Alabama
MWAH!
ReplyDeleteThat's awesome and amazing and a beautiful story too! I love how you reached deep inside yourself and you reached out to others to push yourself. It's inspiring! Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDelete