Kelly Gibbons, artist and writer, about me

Sunday, June 27, 2004

38:20.02

That's how long it took me to run 3 miles today!

It isn't going to get me to Athens, but I did it. I did something that I never thought I could do. When I talked about running, I always said, "I can't do that, I just can't run." And I never tried. This time, I found a way to do it and I did it.

I am proud of me.

I ran at the track to day, and those last few laps were wonderful. I kept repeating to myself, You are strong, you are beautiful, you are full of energy, you are going to do this.

I got stronger every lap I took.

As I started the last lap I imagined there was a stadium full of people cheering me on. I kind of wanted people there to see me do this.

Then I started to think of all the people in my life who thought I could never do this like the 9th grade track coach who only let me attempt to run once with the comment, "No one else is here today, so we'll pretend you're a good runner." With that kind of encouragement it is no wonder I didn't finish that race. I pictured her and said, "See I can do this. I can do anything I put my mind to."

At the half way point of the last lap I started to laugh as I remembered something my daughter told me see did in races. When she has to kick it in at the end, she says "Here I go," and in one race she actually said it out loud. So I said it out loud, really loud, "Here I go Kelc, here I go."

Then it was just me and the track as I remembered who I did this for: ME. I was the one who got out there and ran. I was the one who motivated myself. I was the one who was going to finish this. And I was the one who was going to run 3 miles for the first time in my life.

With about 200 yards to go, I picked up the pace. I was going to finish strong. At 100 yards I went faster. As I finished I had a big smile on my face and I said to myself, "That's three miles, you did it, one more goal accomplished."

posted by Kelly @ 6/27/2004 08:15:00 PM

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