As I marked my 47th birthday, I took a moment to reflect on the past year and one significant achievement stood out – completing a half marathon. It was a goal I never thought I could achieve, but with determination and support from my daughter, I crossed the finish line.
The journey began in December 2023 when my daughter, Anne, decided to run a 10-kilometre race with me in Ottawa. Her support motivated me to train for the Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend. The race day arrived in May 2024, and despite my initial doubts, I finished the race in under one hour and 30 minutes, surrounded by the energy of the event and the presence of my family.
After the 10-kilometre race, Anne mentioned she was going to participate in a half marathon in Fredericton with her colleagues. Encouraged by her, I decided to join them, setting out on a challenging journey that involved rigorous training throughout the summer months.
Despite facing obstacles like long work hours and time constraints, I persevered with my training plan, pushing myself to increase my mileage each week. However, a new challenge arose when I discovered there was a time limit for the half marathon – all runners had to finish within three hours and 30 minutes, putting pressure on my already slow pace.
As the 2024 Fredericton Fall Classic approached, I battled self-doubt and anxiety, but the support of my daughter and the excitement of the race kept me going. On race day, I navigated through the crowd, pushing myself through each kilometre, fueled by positive affirmations and the cheers of volunteers and spectators.
With each marker passed, I struggled with fatigue and uncertainty, but a chance encounter with Anne on her final leg of the marathon reignited my determination. Despite a moment of confusion near the 19-kilometre mark, I found the strength to push forward, guided by volunteers and the promise of completing the half marathon.
As I approached the final stretch, exhausted but determined, the sight of my daughter and son-in-law cheering me on gave me the final push to cross the finish line. With the medal around my neck and tears of joy in my eyes, I realized that I had accomplished the seemingly impossible.
The post-race celebrations were filled with overwhelming emotions and a sense of achievement. The medal now hangs in my office, serving as a reminder that I can overcome challenges and achieve my goals. This experience has taught me that I am capable of doing hard things, and it has inspired me to continue pushing my boundaries in all aspects of life.