This past weekend was the first
annual Victoria Goddess Run, which consisted of a 5K, 10K and half marathon. Lisa
emailed Heather and myself a few months ago and suggested combining this event
with a reunion here in Victoria [as we all live in different cities]. I decided
that as daunting as it was, I was going to challenge myself to walk the 5K
course - a distance that I haven’t tackled in a long, long time. I knew it
would be a good stepping stone towards my 10K in Switzerland this fall though. As
it grew closer, I started to get more nervous. I was going for smaller walks in
an attempt to gear up for the event, but I was terrified of pushing it too much
and going for the full 5K before the actual event.
The week leading up to the
weekend of the walk was not the greatest joints-wise. I hadn’t been sleeping as
well as usual which always takes a toll on my body – as it does anyone’s. I was
nervous. I was nervous that I wouldn’t be able to complete the full distance. I
underplayed it in saying that I wouldn’t be upset if I had a “did not finish”,
but deep down, I didn’t want that. I don’t give up easily but sometimes I have
to accept that I can’t do certain things.
I messaged Trish the night before
stating that I was a little nervous about how my body was going to hold out for
the walk [and afterwards] and she sent me a fantastic, inspiring message in
return, giving me an extra boost of bravery.
The morning of I felt pretty good
– especially considering how much sangria Heather and I drank the night before!
The pitchers of sangria at Pagliacci’s? SO GOOD. Just... maybe not the night
before you’re doing a run/walk! We made our way out to the event and met up
with Lisa there. Lisa was running the 10K and started 15 minutes ahead of my
event. Heather and I saw her off, and then things got real. I was about to get
in line for the 5K. FIVE. WHOLE. KILOMETERS. Heather, being the awesome
cheerleader she is [she was side-lined by foot surgery and unable to run like
planned] walked me up to the start line – I’m quite sure at this point she
could tell how nervous I was getting.
And then we were off! Since I was
walking, and I’m courteous, I positioned myself at the back of the pack. 1)
Nobody has to play Frogger to get around me and 2) the fewer people I see
passing me.
I won’t sugar coat things and say
that it was easy. My knees were screaming at me from the moment went started.
The first two kilometers went relatively well, and between the 2 and 3
kilometer markers I was feeling pretty good – it didn’t feel too far. From 3 to
4 I noticed the distance a bit more, but hitting that 4K marker felt amazing. Knowing
there was only one kilometer left I knew I could do it.
At this point the 10K and half
marathon routes had looped back and joined up with the 5K so that we all finished
along the same route. On the one hand, dozens and dozens of people passing me,
but on the other, it was good to be surrounded by everyone sharing a common
goal – finishing. I can’t even count how many people slowed to ask if I was
doing ok, since I walk with an obvious limp. Usually this question from
strangers bothers me. Mostly because it’s phrased “Why are you limping?” which
is a pretty invasive question. It’s like asking someone with major scars what
happened. But not once was I taken aback when people along the course asked me how
I was doing – they were genuinely concerned. I would smile and was honest,
stating that I had arthritis in my knees but doing well. Most of them would
continue on with a quick “ok!” and that was that. Around the 3K marker after
having this exchange with one runner she paused, look me dead in the eye and
stated “You are really a TRUE goddess” before continuing on ahead. I think that’s
what got me through to the last kilometer.
When I rounded the last corner,
and the finish line was visible up ahead, I knew I was going to do it. Heather
jumped onto the course not far from the finish to give me a hug and words of
encouragement for the last little bit. Cue starting to tear up. She let me
continue on ahead alone through the finish, walking around to meet me as I came
through.
And then I was greeted in the
best way right at the finish. Cathy, one of the race directors, was standing
there cheering the women as they came through the finishing chute. We spotted
one another and she came skipping over to me to give me a giant hug and sling
her arm over my shoulder as I crossed the finish line. She told me how proud
she was and that she was getting teary. Which of course instantly made ME teary
again! I’m sure my finishing photo is stunning!
I felt amazing after. Mentally,
that is. Physically, I was done. Although not as done as I thought I was, since
it was still almost a full kilometer back to the car. With the walk to and from
the car I actually walked 6.8K that day – awesome! Even closer to my goal of
10K! I was pretty stiff and sore for the rest of the day, and the following few
days, but surprisingly not as bad as I was expecting.
Having so many people cheering me
on, both in person and from far away [my mum!], known and unknown, gave me the
courage to not only start the event, but to finish it. I may have been dead
last for the 5K [not a surprise in the least] but I was surprised that there
wasn’t as much of a gap between me and the previous finishers in my distance. And
last or not, I finished. With a smile on my face and head held high.
