For me, the finale race for 2013 was to be the Disney Wine and Dine half marathon. I was elated to be running in a new place with incomprehensible visions, as the excitement of three parks lie ahead. My husband became very ill the afternoon of the race. I could not leave him by himself. "In sickness and in health..."-- despite having the best year of my entire running career, it all came down to knowing where I needed to be. Despite the knot in my stomach, I stayed back, keeping him hydrated and medicated, while my aunt and our friend enjoyed magical race experience. Ironically, it didn't bother me. Race registration--$180. Being there for a husband with a GI bleed --- priceless.
At the end of the day, it doesn't matter whether we race 4 or 40 times per year. We are runners. We are athletes with exceptional drive, unrivaled mental control, and unwavering commitment.
At the end of the day, it doesn't matter whether you're an elite athlete or a gym rat, a walker or a sprinter. Push yourself. Smile. Make friends at every race. You are who you want to be. Make every experience positive and find the good in every situation. In a life with no guarantees, faith, family, and hard work can take you places you've only ever dreamed of.
Being an Altra Ambassador this year was an opportunity I never anticipated having. I can't thank the folks at Altra enough for consistently producing an outstanding product, based on holistic principles. As a clinician, I have referred numerous patients to our local running store for gait analysis and shoe selection. While they have benefitted from several different brands, I've seen bankers, teachers, nurses, runners, walkers--numerous occupations and athletic backgrounds-- reap the benefits of a "zero drop" lifestyle. I could not be more proud to have represented the Altra philosophy for 2013.
I've included photos of some outstanding memories from this fall.
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