Yesterday I ran my first official 10K.
I've run the distance before. I've done Ragnar. I've done a 5K race. But this was the whole thing.
Sign up. Pay the money. Get the shirt. Show up at the starting line in the mountains with a bunch of other crazy people on a beautiful fall morning.
And I loved it.
My son Riley ran the 10K with me. My daughter Amethyst and Jade ran the half marathon, and I'm ridiculously proud of them.
And Jennie ran her SECOND FUCKING MARATHON.
Harder than her first in a lot of ways.
She finished.
But there was a moment before my race that has stayed with me.
I almost wanted to pray.
God, Universe, whatever...
Help me do this.
And something in me immediately answered:
You don't need help. You've already been helped.
It's not: nobody's coming, it's all on me.
And it's not: I'm helpless, please carry me.
You trained. You ran the hills. You got up and did the work. You have people who love you standing right beside you.
You've been helped all the way here.
Now go run.
And I had this funny thought: If I end up in a ditch and can't get out, THEN I'll pray for help. 😂
But I'm not going to end up in a ditch.
God, the Universe, the angels, whatever the hell is out there...
They don't need to carry me across the finish line.
You don't teach your kid to ride a bike so you can hold the seat forever. There's this moment when you're still right there, but you've let go.
Because they've got it.
So the Universe doesn't have to carry me.
It gets to cheer.
It wasn't my greatest run. I struggled with my breath. My body hurt. Pavement at 6,600 feet reminded me I'm definitely more of a mountain/trail guy.
But I finished.
Afterward the five of us came home. I cooked giant burgers. We sat around recovering, laughing, talking until 2 in the morning.
Five tired bodies.
One very happy family.
Today I rest.
Tomorrow I'll probably get the bike out.
Thanksgiving, another 10K. Then let's beat this time.
Then maybe...
a half marathon?
Holy shit.
Apparently we're doing this.
What a fucking beautiful thing to be alive, have a body, ask something difficult of it...
and discover:
I've got this.