Race Narrative Essay

I woke up Saturday the 20th, of September with the feeling of a painful sting in my throat. It was two and a half hours before the gun would be fired and I was to race the longest distance I ever did in my life, 21.1km. Well, it all really started almost a year before. I began joining my mom in her 10km runs as she was preparing for her Picton marathon, which she later couldn't participate in due to an injury. I felt that running 10K was possible and started thinking about going further. In February the registration for the army run opened. I told my parents to sign me up for the ½ Marathon. Doubtfully my mom did paying the 70$ registration fee. For almost five months I ignored the fact that I am getting closer and closer to running the race.

I told her “I have to finish it, after all I was the one who signed up for it”. later my mom tried to convince me it was acid reflux and that it happens a lot when nervous. I agreed to what she said secretly knowing that I am developing a cold. I drove with her to the race and began stretching and warming up. The gun went off and I began my run. I knew that it would be long and I knew that if I get really sick, I would finish it no matter what, even if it involved me walking the race. I began the first 5km following the 01:50 pacer, I wanted to follow the 1:45 but I gave up on the idea due to my sore throat at the beginning. It felt easy, I could still feel pain in my throat but I ignored it and continued. I didn't let it get in my way. I crossed the 5km checkpoint with an average pace of 5 minutes a km. The 10km marker came shortly after as I was beginning to enjoy the rhythm at the 15km mark, governor general David Johnston was on the sidelines. I tried to give him a high 5 but too many people where in the way. I continued until the 19km mark when my leg pain started. I felt like I couldn't finish