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It’s mile 9. The legs are burning, the left calf muscle continues to contract close to a pulled muscle repeatedly, and the 2:00 pacers with a bright star passes me. Thoughts are bouncing off each other, “You gotta keep up with them. Keep pushing. Don’t stop.” The space between the pacers and me continues to increase further and further as I try to stay close to them. “Relax and follow the star” My mind went blank. No other thoughts about the body, or anything else. It was just me and that blue star totem. 3 miles passed with that one focus in mind before the treacherous final uphill battle to finish the race. I lost focus and the star zoomed forward. Before the last turn, a brother came from the left and screamed, “You can still do it! Push through!” A spurt of adrenaline rose bringing me to a sprint. As I lined the corner, time suddenly stood still. “No f*cking way,” I said to myself. On the sidelines of the finish line was the person who inspired me to take the 6-month backpacking trip. It had been years since we last saw each other. With her iPhone at eye level to record, it was clear as a lightbulb she was capturing the moments of another in that space and time. She was now a stranger living another story. Rounding the corner, I raised my knuckled hands and sprinted the fastest I had ever run before to cross the finish line. The long journey was finally over.
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