My Team Challenge

By Yanice Douglass

I’d received an orange and blue flyer in the mail. The flyer said “Challenge Yourself to Change a Life.” When I learned of Team Challenge in 2008, I knew it was a golden opportunity to give to train for a half marathon.  To lose a bit of weight while training also intrigued me. Interestingly, one of my life-long goals was to challenge myself and run a half marathon. Whenever I saw folks complete the grueling distance run, it deepened my desire complete the race.  Additionally, I knew that I could finish the race if I put my heart and soul into my training regime.

In the beginning, I knew it was a good fit for me. As I got to know my fellow Team Challenge members and my training progressed, I realized that this experience became a great journey. It grew into something larger than my own desires as I became a soldier in the battle to find a cure for Crohns and Colitis. I had a new purpose and a new drive. It was to complete my race and race for the cure. Every mile I ran, every dollar I raised would bring me closer to finishing the race and bring Team Challenge closer to finding a cure.  Together I knew we would do it.

Rock and Roll Half Marathon Las Vegas December 5th 2010

I arose early in the morning to peek out the window and look at the course of which i would soon be a part. My hotel room at Mandalay Bay was set right over the course leaving a breathtaking view. This was finally it. The weeks of hard work and training led me to this day. I was so proud to know that I would soon be accomplishing one of my life long goals.

I went down to the lobby to meet Team Challenge Georgia. As I stepped out of the elevator the entire hotel was covered in orange. It was such an awesome sight to see that Team Challege had taken over Vegas. The day was finally here and we were all pumped up. After snapping a few pictures and chanting some team cheers we all made our way to our assigned corrals. I spotted my corral and immediately got into place. As I waited at the start line my heart beat fluttered rapidly in anticipation of what lied ahead of me. I was getting ready to complete a 13.1 mile journey that started long before I arrived at the starting line. I anxiously bounced around in the starting corral until I heard the starting shot and the runners began to move and fall into their paces. I was surrounded by twenty-four thousand others that on this very day that had something in common. We were all challenging ourselves to be better than we were before.

I pranced forward as the runners spread out on the course. As I settled into a comfortable pace I was able to take in the amazing sights on the Las Vegas strip. There was an amazing source of electricity that flowed through me every moment of this race. Everyone seemed full of spirit as I passed up the mile makers one by one. As I approached mile three my coach Max was there to join me. It was great to run with him. This was quite the way to start out my race. He was there to provide me the extra push and encouragement needed to endure the miles ahead of me. After about a mile we parted ways with a powerful high five.

Before I knew it mile three and mile four were behind me. One by one I passed the markers and then saw my team manager Angel at mile six. It was so wonderful. I just had to say wow to myself. I felt so loved and supported as I passed her and she cheered me on and said I was awesome. After the reunion with my manager I continued on my journey with seven miles to go.

Alln of a sudden I was at mile nine. This is when I had a rude awakening. The finish line now seemed so close yet so far away. All of a sudden my body started to send me mixed messages. The flatness of the course was a dream but the dryness of the air left me challenged as I gasped in disbelief. This was not a feeling I was used to. I knew my endurance was good but I was not used to running in this element. As I approached mile ten I heard the band playing “Don’t Stop Believing” it was just the thing I needed to propel pass mile ten.

With three miles to go finishing was in the front of my mind. The excitement and energy started to be overcome by fatigue, aches and pain. I continued to trot along the course as the cheers from the crowd served as fuel to help me put one foot in from of the other. I knew I was going to make it but with each step my legs began to feel heavier.

Mile eleven was within reach. Out of nowhere I found a friend in a Team Challenge Coach from Florida. This was an unexpected gift. She ran with me for a mile and let me know my coach Mary is ahead waiting to run me to the finish line. So I run and run and finally see mile twelve and Mary. This is what I had been waiting for. Throughout the entire time training Mary had been an angel in my corner and she  once again was that angel. As I met with Mary she said “DON’T STOP”! YOU ARE GOING TO MAKE IT” At that moment the love in my heart overflowed as I slapped Mary the high five and chugged to mile thirteen.

I continued to run forward. Ahead of me I saw the finish line and to my right my husband Derrick shouted he loved me and he was proud of me. I was almost there. My dream was within reach. At that moment as I crossed the finish line an overwhelming feeling of pride, accomplishment, and love shot through me. Tears began build as I raised my arms in victory. I ran 13.1 miles to change, challenge and cure. GO TEAM CHALLENGE!

Why I Run

People often ask me why I run. Simply put to be a part of something bigger. Every moment leading up to my half marathon in Las Vegas in December 2010 was one to remember. I had the opportunity to train with some of the most wonderful people I ever met. I received encouragement and support at the same time offered encouragement and support to those who needed it. The journey to the half marathon helped to make me a better person inside and out. I know because of this experience my life has been changes. I know that I have the strength and determination to make it through the most challenging situations. One mile at a time I was able to make a difference in the lives of others while making a difference in my own life. I now see life through a new pair of eyes. After all of this people still ask “what do you get out of running 13.1 miles”