10 kilometers
1 L of water
1 hour 16 minutes of pounding the pavement
141 competitors
DEAD LAST.
But look what I GOT!
That’s me on the left, sucking wind, trying to make up my oxygen debt. Little sis is on the right (the well-rested one, since she’s been waiting for me at the finish line for the past 20 minutes). Best part about the day? My niece placed second in her age division and won half a dozen lobsters. Gotta love running races in Nova Scotia. 
So, how does this relate to writing? It doesn’t. Ha!
Well, yeah. It kinda does. The whole running thing is pretty analagous to how I felt when I first joined my critique group about 5 years ago. I was a newbie. Soft. Starting from nothing. Fellow writers blew by me with their talent and drive. All I could do was watch them go and hope that I’d catch up, someday. But like my sister, my critique buddies were there for me at the finish line. Most even ran back to cheer me on as I made my way to my goal.
Writers, and runners, are human. It’s easy to fall into the trap of comparing ourselves to others. Who’s ahead of you, who’s beside you, who’s behind? But where does that get you? The best we can do is go at our own pace, pick ourselves up if we fall and take that glass of water as it’s handed out at the aid station.
(Did I mention they were packing up the aid stations as I shuffled by? Yeah. Uh-huh. Dead last.)
I accept that I’m a horrible runner. But yanno what? It still felt great to cross that finish line.
6 Comments
Wow, that’s super fast for a 10 miler in my book. That’s 16 k, right? N wants to do a 1/2 marathon this fall. Eep!
Comment by Hélène on August 3rd, 2009 @ 9:17 amCongrats–seriously! You should be so proud just for doing it! Whaaaahoooo!!
Comment by Angela on August 6th, 2009 @ 12:33 amOh my gosh, Helene, I can’t believe you posted this. My husband, who just ran his first marathon last year, is trying to sign me up for a half this fall. Girl, I can hardly make it to 3 miles. He has all my training mapped out. Stay in touch. I’m such a chicken! (And afraid it’ll take away from my writing time. 
)
Haha! Kristin, I’m a chicken too. My sister (yes, the evil one in the picture ) is trying to get me to run a 1/2 marathon too. I’m doing one in May but am WALKING. Trying to get up the courage to run one too, but I’m a scaredy-cat.
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You are not a horrible runner!!!!!!! How many other people that were present didn’t even participate in the run!!!
Comment by Penne Dyer on August 3rd, 2009 @ 7:39 amYou have to start somewhere………..AND it can only get better!!!
My first TEN MILER was 87 mins now I just completed my 7th 10 mile race @ 79 mins…..