Monday, October 8, 2007

Medals for the heart, medals for the soul

I did something extra special yesterday. I achieved a goal I set for myself in May. I trained for it all summer. And yesterday was the day it all came together. When I crossed the finish line at the half-marathon and felt the medal placed around my neck, it was all I could do not to burst into tears. It was pouring rain, and my body was numb with cold, but I could feel the warmth of the medal hanging around my neck. My medal.

I was never athletic. I was always the kid who was picked last for teams. And I never had medals or trophies to adorn my wall or make my parents proud. But now, now I have a medal. And it's my medal. I fought for it and I won it. And I am so very proud of it.

When I came home from the event, and placed my medal beside my other two participation medals from other events this past summer, my heart swelled with pride. My soul swelled with pride. Though I am no longer the last, nor even the first, I am still a winner. And I have the medals to prove it.

3 comments:

Leslie said...

congratulations!!!!

Sonya said...

YAHOO!!!!! Congrats on meeting your goal!!!!

Success sure does taste good, eh?
Better then any sort of junk food you've had in the past I bet!

Once again, congrats!!!

Anonymous said...

Yeah! You did do the half-marathon!
I walked a half marathon in Sept 2006 and also found it very moving. My name was on my bib so along the route, and especially close to the finish, people were calling my name and urging me on. I was so happy I was crying, actually I'm getting teary right now remembering it. I just signed up for the haf marathon again in Sept and hope to shave 15 minutes off my time.
Why is my medal in a box somewhere? I need to put it on display immediately!