From the Finish Line...

for those that know...yes, I'm wearing my invisalign trays... hence, the bigger pout and closed smile!

"After some rehydration, people watching and refueling we headed back to the finish line to cheer people through. This was one of the best feelings I've had in a while. I had to turn away a few times. It's that instant you're taken over by emotion. The swell of tears rise from sheer happiness. That was happening, over and over."

What I wrote at the finish line of my 10K on Saturday. 

With my iphone in hand I've decided to type what I'm seeing instead of the normal photo snapping.
The finish line is a place of celebration. It is the home of runners victories. Those that cross it come from all different walks and each made it there with different reasons and goals in mind. No one starts a race to not finish it. These are of the ~40,000 people we joined in the Monument Avenue 10K 2013 race....

Pregnant women literally racing for two somehow gracefully crossing the finish line.
The very overweight, the ones who very well may be pushing the hardest in this crowd.
Husbands and wives holding hands, a strong union, a proud moment of team work.
Kids clapping and smiling without a bead of sweat, running an adult sized race.
The mother - daughter teams making memories.
The father - son teams making memories.
The best friends, the girls in a line spread across the street, hands held high - gitty and cheering.
Outrageous costumes, tutu's and one of kind statement race T's drenched in sweat crossing the line.
Goofballs tied at the ankles, having somehow ran the entire race with only "3 legs".
The runners who clearly didn't think they could ever make 6.2 miles, their faces displaying sheer disbelief and prideful happiness.
The senior citizens with chest pushed forward as they placed their bib first through the line for a time better than last years.
The cancer survivors
The cancer fighters
The ones doing it for those who can't

As I cheered and took in all the faces I couldn't help but want to cry! It's silly to some but for me, I just see power. I see people believing in themselves. I see hard work paying off. I see boosts of confidence. The feeling of watching people succeed is such an awesome feeling, in ways... better than your own successes.
The finish line is where you aim to be at the first step of the race, it's also where you should wrap back to after catching your breathe. The party is there, the volume of cheer is deafening and the rawness of emotion is constantly on display. Always, always be a part of something bigger than you are.

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To imagine the horrific terror on faces of those at the finish line of the Boston Marathon is just something I can't picture. The news breaks the story and fills in the blanks that human minds can't fill. The ones who designed this awful tragedy are far from human in my opinion. They are awful, awful breeds of people. Ones that rip families apart by death, injury and by force of heroism and need to protect and defend. My prayers and thoughts and next run are with those suffering from yesterday.


Regular scheduled post will be back on track tomorrow!
The funnies I had planned to share from the race just didn't seem appropriate in light of yesterdays events....






Linking with Just Because, Take Time Tuesdays