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!
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