A Running Tale

Once upon a time there were some wonderful friends. They are amazing women and fabulous runners. One day, one of the friends said "I've been running a lot and I think it would be cool to train for a 1/2 marathon!" Some of them thought it would be great. And others thought, "Ah, that's nice. I'll do a 10k...you silly running people...why would you want to run that far :)!"

So some of them were really cool and started training for the 1/2 marathon. And they were so very cool...keeping to the training schedule and racking up SO many miles! And then there were the others...training for the 10k. And the miles racked up...and it felt good!

Then it came time to register for the race. And surprise...there was NO 10k!!! And they (the 10k chicks) had to decide between a 5k, a 1/2 marathon, or they could have husbands pick them up once they ran the 10k. So, they really tried. They ran and ran and ran and ran. Their miles started racking up, too. They ran 6, then 8, then 8, then 9...and they thought...we might actually be able to do this! So they signed up for the 1/2 marathon too...and it felt scary...and good...and exciting!

Oh, but one of the amazing friends...she just had a baby...a very cute baby! And this very amazing friend said, "I'm trying to run too! I'm tired, and my baby is so wonderful, and I want to be a part of this and to try to do the 5k!" And they all loved her so much more because they knew how big this was!

So they ran, and laughed, and cried, and ran, and ran, and laughed! And they all thought of their families...how all the children will see their mom's running and working and struggling and achieving! And these children are all wonderful! And then there are the husbands...the wonderful husbands that loved, supported, encouraged, and cheered on these wonderful women. These husbands mopped floors, took care of children, and missed basketball because the runners were so very awesome and sore!

And the time came. They packed bags, ipods, and families and headed to a land of dutch shoes and windmills to run the race. They were excited and nervous and anxious! And then the race started and these wonderful women ran. They ran like they have never run before. They had goals...and they reached their goals! And it was hard...so very hard. The miles went on. Some miles felt good, very good. And some felt so very bad. But then they came to the last mile. They knew that it was almost over, that their families and those that had finished before them were there waiting...waiting for each amazing woman to make the final turn to the finish line...to achieve what they never thought was possible! And their wonderful families were waiting with cheers, and smiles, and hugs that could be heard and felt from miles away!

And they finished...they made it...and they will never be the same. They accomplished, they grew, and they felt the impact on themselves and the souls of their families! And the wonderful friends laughed, cried, hugged, and went home.

The End

Links to the other amazing friend's blogs and their running stories:

http://thecarnaroonies.blogspot.com/

http://sweetpeafamily.blogspot.com/

http://123jonesfamily.blogspot.com/