I just finished my first race.

What really happened was…

I got a phone call from my friend, Spark, at 10:30 last night wondering if I wanted to run a 2.2 mile jog/walk in Mayberry in the morning. I said, “Sure!”

So Spark called Bo, one of my daily running buddies, to pressure her into running with us. She was leaving on vacation this morning so we didn’t think she would. But the pressure was just too much and she caved and decided to come with us.

We got up early (to load up on ibuprofen, caffeine, probably some hormone replacements and what ever else would make us feel young again) and took off for our first race. Bo, Sis and Spark, three peas in a pod. (Notice the pale faces and puffy eyes…)

After signing in, we stretched.

(Spark says stretching is what real runners do.) So we stretched, cause we want to be a real runners. After stretching we were herded on a bus and driven out of town 2.2 miles to a pretty spot and dumped off.

 All the real runners went on out 5.5 miles. (It hurts me to say that.)

Anyway we waited until the other runners took their marks, so we could all start together.

Of course, waiting makes a few people have to go. How do you spell relief?

C-O-R-N-F-I-E-L-D

We were yackin’ the race started.

We ran like the wind, Bullseye, until we got tired then we walked to catch our breath. It’s hard to breathe when you take a week off to go on tour and when the humidity is 80-some percent.

By and by we made the finish line.

There waiting for us was a bottle of water, a banana, a t-shirt, a medal and people hollering and clapping. I felt like a rock star. I jogged a personal best at 36 and a half years old…21 minutes and 21 seconds.

I’m proud of my running buddies and me. (Here’s after.)

In fact, I feel like someday I could do a Kashi commercial, like that old guy that said something like…”I never ran a day before I was 36 and now I’m 150 and still haven’t stopped….” That might be a little far reaching, but, I can dream!

My favorite comment of the day was from a lady I didn’t know. She said last year she walked the race with her Mom. They finished dead last. This year she showed up and walked it alone. She beat the 5.5 milers in. Another personal best. Isn’t that cool? I dare say she is the most improved person that raced this morning. I’m completely proud of her. I think she was the real winner today.

Her story gives me hope. I love it that the tortise is still whupping the hare here in my wheat field. One step at a time.

My mama always said, “It’s the slow and steady plodders that win the race of life.”

When you boil all the water out of the pot… I don’t have much money. I have even less sense. But, I know enough to know that I am blessed most days to be surrounded by other beautifully simple folks who show up beside me for this race we call life. We plod slowly and steadily along, enjoying each others company, and reminding each other…it’s not how you place in YOUR race, but how you journey that makes you a winner.

It’s not too late to get into the race.

Simply,

Sis