I didn't do it for a family member, friend, coworker, or for work. I did it for me. I was told by a friend that I have a fighting heart, just like a lion. I joked with my roommates that when I got the flu that the "mighty lion had fallen", but thankfully this mighty lion ultimately came out victorious.
13.1 miles was so much more than the 2 hours 17 minutes and 42 seconds that it took for me to cross that finish line. It's been 25 years in the making. When I thought I couldn't do it, I could hear my parents voices in my head telling me how proud they were of me, or my friends voices telling me keep on moving Bubba. I had fuel from homemade pasta the night before, and comfort in knowing that three of my friends were running as well. Not once did I walk and not once did I stop.
Pink and black, that was my color scheme for the race, which I'm sure comes as no surprise to most. Unfortunately, that was the color choice for most of the other girls who ran the race as well. Runners were to report to the starting line at 6:15 to get in their respective "corrals" at 6:55 I was still in my car fighting through traffic to find somewhere to park, praying to God that I would not miss the start of the race, taking off layers of clothing and pinning my bib to my shirt. At 7:02 the first tears streamed down my face as I still sat in my car. I can't miss this race, I've trained too hard for this, and not to mention four of my best friends were en route to cheer me on as a crossed the finish line. I made the decision then and there that I would park my car, illegally and take the fine or imminent car tow, to complete the race.
I put my iPod on and ran the mile + to the stadium armory, full bladder and all, determined to run this race. Twenty-six minutes after the initial gun was shot, I began my journey to 13.1 miles.
I did the YMCA with Howard University students, high-fived complete strangers, grabbed water from enthusiastic volunteers, and "ran through history" But on Saturday, March 26, 2011 I made my own history. HRH- Hadley the Runner Hines
