Victory was almost mine.
That's right- me. The non-runner. I led the female division of a 10K right to the near end. It felt great. It was hard. My lungs and side hurt, but when I turned around at the half-way mark and realized that I was in first place, it motivated me a bit more. Could I really win something like this? Just think about my little boy's expression if he knew mommy won something. I could do it.
But in the end, I couldn't. Another, faster, better, more seasoned-runner passed me around the last 1/4 mile. I thought to myself that I couldn't give up. I could keep up with her. I'd let myself run 5 3/4 miles and I couldn't let her win. I tried. I failed. Then I did something I never do-- I stopped! But only for a few brief seconds. I had felt the twinge of possible victory, but now the agony of defeat was present. I quickly picked myself up though and told myself to keep running. I had never intended on winning- that was just a bonus to be able to lead for that amount of time. I know she deserved it.
I think of how our folks must feel when they don't pass a section of the fit test. At that moment it is over for them. But the reality is that you must keep going. You have to pick yourself up and score well on the other areas. Don't quit. Don't give up. Show yourself that while it might not be your victory day, that all is not lost. And then tomorrow, brush yourself off and try harder. It's a choice we all make... and we can choose to be winners and keep going no matter what.
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