The Race.

It was a very hot morning. I arrived with my friend J'Nae at about 6:30 a.m. and we milled around the start line. I was feeling my nerves and the energy in the air surrounding me. A few words from our coach Mark and seeing all of my new friends made me feel the preceding 8 weeks of practice in my body. Like a Biophysical "knowingness" I knew that I could make it. We all walked to the starting line.

A sea of people (950ish) awaited the gun. After it fired, they took off...well, the people in front did. For the rest of us, it was ready...set...walk.... slowly.... to the starting line. hah But, soon enough, we were there. Adrenaline rushed through me but it had been drilled into my head to STAY CONTROLLED for the first half of this race. Knowing I had MAYBE 8 minutes of full effort, I was conservative.

The hills and the heat were no joke at all. As we climbed, I would shorten my stride and take my time. Before I knew it, we were at mile 1. Water. I took some, drank and poured it over my head. I felt like it was going to be ok!

Fatherland. God. One looooooong sloooooow uphill grade. The heat seemed more intense..we were more in the sun. The hill would go from somewhat intense...to hellish...back to somewhat intense. This sums up mile 2. At the top, there was another water stop----Thank God. Then, it was time to go downhill. Going down Woodland, I noticed on the pavement the words..."Bacon Ahead". This is when I first thought I may have already passed away. hah But SURE ENOUGH there was a sweet woman offering strips of crispy pork to the runners passing by. Seemed like a bad idea to me at the time...I abstained. As we hit the bottom of the hill, where Lipstick Lounge is located, it was time to make our final ascent. This is where the heat really really started to screw with me. I was seeing stars and my tongue was tingling. I knew we didn't have much further to go, but I was really hitting a wall. We made that hill and turned...a little further...turned again. At this point, I was breathing as slowly and deeply as I could to get my heart ready to run as fast as I could. The next to last turn I kept steady and controlled so that I could ignite on the final push.

Last turn. I see the finish line. I can hear people. My feet start moving and before I know it, I am in a full gait sprint to the end. Everything that I am is in my run at this point. It is longer than I have sprinted before and I knew that as I started. This time however, something seemed to be running for me. Something stronger and faster. I was hauling ass.

I crossed the line and kept gasping for air. I had put my body to the test like I never have previously in my life. It kept up. It did well for me. I have no knee or back pain and I am not all that stiff. The training help me keep it all together....but...I had nothing left. I felt good about leaving it all on the pavement. It was great to have this experience as my starting point into running. I have met MANY beautiful people in this leg of the journey and will continue to run. My next race will be Oct. 9th in Germantown.

Now I will turn my attention to weight loss. I am tired of being in the same sized pants. Looking the same. There is so much information out there...it is like a sea of contradicting white noise on the subject. I am officially overwhelmed. So far, the one hope I have is that PERHAPS I am gluten intolerant. More whole grains and way less of things MADE from whole grains may benefit me. I don't know. It is unbelievably frustrating though. I also have slips and times when I am in "screw it" mode. So this week, I am going to make it my goal of being gluten-free (I tried before but failed). But this week, in much the same way I gave everything I had to the race, I will give everything to this effort. My focus will be Quinoa, Millet, Greens, Veggies, and lean Proteins. When I say Veggies...I mean INHUMANE amounts of them. I am NOT going to work this hard and let a voice inside justify undoing it. That is truly slavery. And--- I am free. So..."No" will be my mantra.

Thank you for all the wonderful words and gestures of encouragement. It has been, and continues to be, a source I draw from as I become more and more of who I am meant to be.

Roy