Monday, October 22, 2007

Hold on Tight

"Persistence Persistence Persistence. With the wind kissing my face and the ground supplying the grace, there is very little to impede the need. The need to succeed. Standing alone I discovered the reason for heart. For there stood the enemy. Wishing to stop me before I start. They will hold your ankles. Pull you down by the wrists. They will kick, bite, and push. They will-will resist. With little life left to see. Steady came my plea. For as long as I am me. I will-will persist."

I can't find who wrote that, but I like it. I successfully completed 12 miles on Saturday and am proud to say that I finished 12 miles in less time than it took me to do 10 the week before. 2:20. I like those numbers. Do I have the potential of keeping that pace at 26.2? Who knows, but I will finish and it won't be on a bus. Note, if you don't meet certain pace times at certain points during the Disney marathon they have a bus waiting to "escort" you to the finish line. I don't want to ride the bus! And, I bet it is one of those short buses too. Anyhow, I ran the 12 miles alone on Saturday. It was just me and my iPod. BTW - we are not suppose to use iPods and it was the first time I did a long run with one and for me, music is my refuge. My playlist started with Barry Manilow's "Daybreak" when the sun was coming up as I turned onto Montgomery Rd. from Weller and ended with Josh Turner's "Me and God" while I ran my 1/2 mile into Weller Park. As I was running, I gave some serious thought to how I was out there alone that day and how I've adjusted my life to this aspect pretty steadily over the years. I didn't say "comfortably" though. I think it's just a survival mode I've gotten into. I heard ELO's song "Hold on Tight (to your dreams)" last week and added it to my playlist. It came on about 1/2 way into my run on Saturday - it's one of my new favorites. Barry Manilow, Josh Turner, and ELO - is there any logic to it? I don't think so.
Hold on tight to your dream
Hold on tight to your dream
When you see your ship go sailing
When you feel your heart is breaking
Hold on tight to your dream.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

you encourage the heck out of me! i'm so thankful for you!

Debra Wilson said...

Likewise, my running buddy. I hope the foot is healing. Stay encouraged and don't give up!

Anonymous said...

Way to go on the 12 mile mark....if you say you won't be on the bus I know you won't be because of your strong perserveranc.

Anonymous said...

No bus for you, "little leaf!" I have to say that once you have run that 14-miler, your body will really develop a "memory" for the endurance you are going to experience in the next couple of months. 14 is a magic number. Just wait! I hope I don't eat those words. :) Oh....and by the way, you will be 39 in about 6 days!!! Yippee!! And stay out of the dark by yourself. No running in the dark alone ever again!