I woke up at 3:15 a.m. to catch the shuttle that heads up to the canyon. I had no idea this was part of the deal until after signing up or I may have thought twice. The race started at 6 a.m. They dropped us off just below Sundance. It was pitch black out and very Twilight Zoney. There were bonfires for keeping warm. Emily got it spot on when she said it looked like there had been a zombie apocalypse. I was feeling pretty amped and ready to run from the zombies for dear life. Too many episodes of The Walking Dead in our basement in DC... Maybe that's why I finished faster than I expected??
When I refer to feeling the spirit, I mean the third member of the Godhead through which our Heavenly Father guides, comforts and warns us on a day-to-day basis. For anyone who doesn't know, I am Mormon (a.k.a. a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints). Usually when I run, especially outdoors, the way I feel the spirit is in quiet surges of peace and strength. It's not exactly a rush of endorphins, though I love those. The spirit makes me want to smile while I run... if I was my own bystander, I'd think I was crazy. BUT, race day was different. I was moved by the humanity of the whole experience.
For example, I saw this: (yes, they're holding hands, about to finish a marathon, and in their 60's)
And this: (The girl in purple was seriously struggling, so yellow girl grabbed her arm and pulled her along. Another girl came up and put her arm behind her back. They stayed like that until the end of the race. I don't even think they knew each other.)
And something a lot like this: (I didn't snap a pic but at the end of the race, there was a dad whose 5 yr. old daughter and 3 yr. old son came and held his hand and ran w/ him until the end. Yes, I was dreaming about my future life....)
I'll willingly admit that I came dangerously close to shedding tears multiple times on this race (by dangerously close, I mean I did). And it wasn't even because my legs and lungs were screaming at me! It happened first at the beginning of the race when we all jolted past the start line and began mile one. I was really, sincerely moved by seeing so many people in so many different sizes and shapes, with so many different stories, backgrounds and personalities, all doing something pretty tough because they want to. And all headed in the same direction. I'll let you come up with your own analogy. But I have to say, it was a really powerful and inspiring sight.
The tears urge came again at the end of the race after I'd finished when I stood by and watched people finish. I think I'll make this a new hobby. If you're ever bored on a Saturday afternoon, go find a race and watch the finishers cross the line. I don't know exactly how to explain why this was so powerful to me. I think it was seeing people accomplish something pretty hard that they'd really worked for. It was also seeing human connection. Married couples finishing hand-in-hand. Strangers helping each other to the finish line. Father's being pulled by their children to the finish line with grins the size of watermelon slices painted on their faces.
The race itself was a rush. Difficult but not as bad as I expected. I was well prepared (from being scared out of my mind). If you've never tried it, running goo totally helps. I had three on the run and every time I felt like Mario POST mushroom consumption. I ran the race at a 9:14 pace finishing in 2:00:50, which I feel pretty good about for my first race. I ranked 52nd of the 276 gals in my age group.
Even or especially if you're not a runner, I highly recommend this experience. I'm running another one next weekend :)
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