What I didn't expect is how much I would come to rely on Jim, Tom,
Scott, Ed, and Emilie. Whether they knew it or not they got me through
these past 12 weeks. Part of it was knowing that we were all going
through much of the same things. There was our fear of having to run
three minutes straight, the week a bunch of us got shin splints and
the Wall Street Run when it occurred to us that we really could do
this running thing.

When the Corporate Challenge came around I knew that my support group
would not be there to cheer me on. That was the race that was going to
make or break me.

My goal for the race was to finish it non-stop. But more than that I
wondered if I could do it on my own and not get into my head and let
those negative thoughts take over. Those negative thoughts never did
enter my mind. Why? Because I knew that there was a small group of
people cheering me on in their own way. I thought about all of our
training and thought about how proud they we would be to know that one
of us made it. I truly believe that we became close enough that if we
knew one of us could do it then we all could do it. That day, they all
crossed the finish line with me.

With the knowledge that I could handle 3.5 miles and then having a
four mile run under my belt, I felt good about the Pride Run. Plus I
knew my support group would be running this one with me.

There we were yesterday in Central Park wearing our Jack Rabbit hats
and shirts. We were a team and not just because we had matching shirts
and hats. Every one of us finished the race.

We did it! We all finished! I can't say that enough. This small group
of people who paniced back in April at running for three whole minutes
finished a five mile race.

I will cherish the medal that Tom presented each of us after the
finish. I'm also thinking about getting my race number framed so that
I will always have that reminder of how far I've come and the amazing
people I took this incredible journey with.

Sent from my iPhone