I had a 15 minute break at work and checked my personal emails and found it was the last day of the United States Track and Field Master’s Virtual Summer Challenge.   I already ran an easy breezy 20 minutes at lunch but I felt terrible…  I spent the last 3 quarters of this year getting into endurance runner shape.  

I wasn’t into a race mindset, but it didn’t matter. It was time to join the meet and do a race.

Within minutes I signed up and then I called the boys. My tween and his visitor agreed to help. We met at our driveway and off I went down a half mile to warm up. I dodged cars and I got to the start point and faced an uphill start.

I didn’t have time to think about that, I had a work meeting in 6 minutes. I flipped the Garmin into Run mode and triple checked it.

Off I went, up the hill, only once to the shoulder to avoid a car, onto the road surface, back to my driveway, my boy and his visitor. I started out too fast, I slowed and paced. At the quarter mile mark it was still easy. Then, I heard the kids hollering. It was back up a dreadful incline to my house and I thought I’d die. No breath…it was humid, I had my typical Asthmatic Bronchitis Congestion with my inhaler in my back pocket it wasn’t top of mind. Instead, the boys got louder and I ignored symptoms and held the pace to the end.

It was a keeper! I hit a 3:01 for the 800m. My boy shot a “guns” photo for my online friends and instantly disappeared. I hit the shower and somehow made my work online meeting.

Overall, I thank God every day for that ability to run, especially in the midst of ailments and a Pandemic. I give a shout out to my stong circle of family that includes my Hubby and Sister. Coach Matt from Run Better Academy also provided all the training plans through the midst of the Pandemic. He made them possible and doable without the need for Doctors, PTs or ATs. At the end of the day, God was totally in control…

Watch “Virtual Race” on YouTube
https://youtu.be/sA1g7TuBe3w