It hurts. Everything about
running, half ass stretching, attempting to clear TSA with a bag of medals, and
eat all the pasta before 10:00pm hurts. I had to go through TSA twice. Oakland
didn’t want me to leave, so I had to go back through. My medals were too blingy
and kept making the sensors go off.
This cannot be the life Jesus
wanted for me.
I have never been so anxious
the night before and morning of a race this year. And well, Happy Hour
happened the night before a few of them. I woke up Sunday morning legitimately
afraid. Then Batman, Ariel and a gottdamn suc trojan were in the living room
ready for picture time. I don’t know where I am right now, but Go Bruins! #BruinsBish #BruinRevolution #WeDemBruins
Well, Race 14 is in the books,
now it’s time for Medal 14. And this one is brought to you by Halloween and the
City of Angels. The final installment of the #IRunTheCoast is Rock n Roll Los
Angeles. San Diego & San Jose are distant memories. 13.1 miles stand
between me and The California Takeover.
Start: In
& Out costume? Pretty damn creative. I'm hungry. Dammit......I haven’t
eaten anything. This can’t be good. Maybe I can sneak a snack from the…oh, my
Corral is leaving…Oh, nevermind.
Mile 1: Trust
your body. Take it easy… Man, downtown LA is sure looking nice since I lived
here. There was a time when I wasn’t a runner that I would have been running
down these streets. Funny how life does this… #ComesFullCircle
#SameRunDifferentReasons
Mile 2: We’re
getting oddly close to that junior college of an alleged institution where they
say learning takes place. I don’t know about this.
Mile 3: The
gottdamn Coliseum. What a cruel joke…this was obviously the “trick” part of the
Halloween season. You mean to tell me I went through ALL OF THIS to run a
circle around this? I cannot. I really cannot. Worst part? My medals are
literally on the other side of this damn contraption. Dear Life, I hate you.
Mile 4: Um, I
don’t feel so good. Perhaps I should stop. I feel like Ezell right now. My neck
and my back are killing me! This sports bra (bras) is struggle is real.
Mile 5: Oh,
so we just did a circle. Like we’re going back towards the way we came. Isn’t.
That. Awesome? I know one thing, if this lady dressed like a referee doesn’t
stop sprinting, then walking in front of me, there will be a personal foul. #AintNobodyGotTimeForYou
Mile 6: I
hate you all. Why must you be so mean Jesus? I mean, I pray. I help old ladies
across streets. I fast (well,
I don’t grocery shop, but….you know what I meant…I don’t eat!). I
can literally, like LITERALLY see the finish line from here. Fck it. I’m
crossing of this gate. I’m getting my medal. I’m tired. I’m hungry. It’s
getting hot. I’m over it.
Mile 7: Why
am I here? And why is she here? Are those ski poles she’s got? Is she
ski-running? Is that a thing? Man, they come up with the craziest stuff. I
wonder if you get a special medal for it. Imma look that up when I finish.
Maybe EBoogie will do it with me. I’m sure I can convince CJC to do it.
Mile 8: I
wonder if I’ll be able to wear my heels tomorrow. They’re so cute. And that
dress tho? The color is everything. OMG, it’s going to make my medals pop! Oh
yea! Heck yea!
#GetIt #MedalMonday #MaybeIShouldFocusOnRunningRightNow
#JustAThought
Mile 9: Is
that a bridge? As in an elevated part of this route? As in, I am going to be
running upward? Hell to the naw. I’m turning around. This can’t be right. *experiencing
real defeat*
Mile 10: There
are seriously like 3 more miles. Why do I do this to myself? Man, the downtown
LA skyline is nice. Let me take a picture real quick *calf
muscles start throbbin* Ugh…fine,
no pictures. I didn’t forget about what you said yesterday.
Mile 11: Where
is that chick with the baby oil? I mean lotion. I mean, damn…what is the name
of that stuff? Vaseline!!! Yes! That’s it! I need some of that. I have no idea
where this itch on my arm is coming from, but I just can’t deal right now.
Mile 12: I’m
going to eat every damn thing in sight. I don’t care what it is or who’s
holding it. I, in this moment, completely understand cannibalism.
Mile 13: *Mali
Music, Walking Shoes comes on* Wow. This is exactly why I’m here. Damn.
Mile (13)0.1: I feel faint. Not fake faint.
Actual faint. I swear, if you fall down right now, right at this finish, I will
never forgive you. I might not actually remember who you are because
concussions are totally a thing. Point is, I WILL hang on to the memory of
never forgiving you…whoever I remember you to be. See, I am getting lost in my
thoughts right now. Why is this tenth of a mile So Long! OMG! Save me!
Finish: I
can’t believe it. It’s really finished. I really did it. Like, for real. What
in the world am I going to do now? Wait...open your eyes...Your Baby Mama is about to cross the finish line! Yassssss!!!! You go girl!!!
I did not plan it this way. I
mean I did, because I registered for these races months and months ago. But to
have #14in2014
end this way? It took 2 races, 2 locations, 2 start lines, and 2
finish lines to get my 14th race and my 14th medal. I
spent the entire weekend running with friends and loved ones. As I finished my last race of the #14in2014, my dear friend was completing her first half marathon! Which is really
what this was all about, right?
I guess. I did not know the
purpose other than the medals last Winter as we Facebook chatted our way into a
year of running for bling. I spent much of my time en route to race locations
reflecting on this very thought; the purpose finally revealed to me by a song
on my playlist.
Anyone who really knows me
knows that my collection of music is, well, eclectic. It’s really hard to
describe and I don’t try to explain the seeming contradictions that make up my
running playlist. One of which is Mali Music. A newer edition to the running
playlist…as it has evolved over time. As I made it to Mile 13, Walking Shoes came
on. And that’s when I figured it out. This whole year was about the time spent
in my (walking)running shoes…
I got my running shoes on and
I could not have told you where I was going, when I decided to do all of this.
I’ve run down many lonely roads, trails, streets, inclining paths and hills,
and thank God for the scenery. It was beautiful. And something has been telling
me that I need to keep on running…
And as I was running, I was
thinking, this dude is literally singing, my
actual life, exactly as it is happening, in the very moment. How
can that be?
Every word, every word he sang
revealed to me new meaning. I haven’t had a clue about what I have been doing
these 10 months. I have literally been registering for races, telling friends
about them, showing up, and taking Medal Monday pictures. That has been the
extent of my investment. I said I was going to do 14 medal races, and it just
so happened that on October 26th I completed what I set out to do.
And I have been desperately trying to figure out the why. But, it’s not always about knowing why, sometimes it’s all about knowing what, and that's enough to keep you walking every day. #QuestionOneAnswered
#ThanksMaliMusic
I have been so anxious this whole year. There
were points that I attempted to figure out how I would spin my inevitable defeat.
In the completely possible chance that I don’t get that 14th medal
and race, what would I say? What would be the title of that blog post? How
would I hashtag it? 14 running events was totally possible, but for me, it was
just a dream that I ain't seen yet, chasing a dream that I ain't dreamed yet, but I'mma meet it halfway if I keep on walking. And I did. I kept on running. And
then walking…when it hurt to run. I never stopped. Not one time. I always
wondered why I would not stop. My mind said quit, but my body would not stop
moving – no matter the pace. What I’ve been after wasn’t at the finish line.
That was just the halfway point. There are still miles ahead of me. And my body
is well aware of it. #Epiphany #Mali…SirYouAreGood
There are two keepsakes from this running experience to date.
I am certain that more will be revealed to me if I do what Daddie always says
and keep on living, right? Right.
First, even though all my times aren’t happy
times…I never let it slow my pace. Most of my times are pretty slow, and as I continue to beat
that dead stopwatch to the ground, the reality is, I may never beat any of
those times I think are socially acceptable among runners. If that’s even a
thing. I was too prideful to see that no matter the time, I kept moving. I
never stopped. Not once. Not even this time when the finish line tempted me so
much. That angry ginger headed lady marveled at my pace.
And second, always waiting for something good to find
you, but if it don’t come what are you going to do? I mean really. Patience is
virtuous, and there are some things in life that are worth the wait. But
everything is not. And this was not. Being a good person is awesome. Being a
static person is not. I have been waiting so long for some real happiness. I
thought that being patient and steadfast in that position I was always in, that
it would find me. It never did.
So, I’m just going to keep on running.
This
Race: Rock N Roll Los Angeles, Half Marathon, Los
Angeles CA
Medaled Miles to date: 86.77 miles
Medaled Miles to date: 86.77 miles
Total
Raced Miles to date: 99.87 miles
0 Medals To Go ǁ 100% Complete
(Challenge Medal 3, 17 Medals ǁ 121% Complete)
You see, 13.1
isn't actually a number – it's a symbol. It means a lot more than thirteen
miles and one-tenth. It's more than 30 songs on an iPod or 52.4 laps around a
standard track. For many, it represents the destruction of a fear. For others,
it's the greatest liberation they've ever felt. For me, it meant breaking a lot
of negative cycles in my life and turning my power toward something
progressive.
#MilesOverMatter
#fromFrederickLMayesFBPost
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