Almost there

I have had the pleasure of participating in several races this year beginning with the Jan. 1 2013 Commitment Day 5k where the temperature was a balmy 19 degrees with light snow and ice on the course and ending with the recent Hot Chocolate 15k with several others races and two triathlon sprints thrown in for good measure.

On every race there are the wonderful volunteers on the course and the participants who have completed the course and claimed their prize who say these the magical words that evoke mixed responses deep from within. These seven powerful words are blessing and a burden. There are blessings because they indicate that relief is close at hand but a burden because you realize you're not there yet. What are well meaning words spoken to inspire and encourage? Simply this "Great job!! Keep going you're almost there!!" Nine times out of ten my first inner thought is: "Are these people kidding me? I heard there's a mile to go, freaking two miles ago!!" "Almost there is not, freaking being there!!"

Usually when I hear this words I've reached my limit and every fiber in my being is wondering if I will meet my creator at the finish line but, simultaneously wishing I won't. One part my psyche is secretly praying, "please Lord take me now!" and the other part of my mind responds  "Ignore that last request, I'm not ready yet, I 've got work to do!!!" This internal robust turmoil intensifies a mile out, half mile out, and a quarter mile out,  down to the final all out sprint, when the finish line is in sight. :

So, with a devil on my left saying: "Almost there my ass! These people are messing with you!! You need to stop, you're not going to make it. Give up now!" and an angel on my right chanting: "almost there..anything, anything, you can do anything for 15minutes...almost there..anything, anything you can do anything for 15minutes" I put one foot in front of the other and keep going.

Today, I discovered the importance of putting one foot in front of the other. My wife introduced me to a 100 foot 45 degree climb called Swallow Cliff. This imposing obstacle is 125 stairs of sheer cardiac delight. As a naive novice climber  I looked up this steep incline thinking: "This doesn't like so bad. How hard could it be?"  At step 65 I found myself saying WTF!! I know it was  step 65 because, I was bent over gasping for air looking at the painted blue number staring back at me taunting me saying "Is that all you got?" When I looked heavenward and saw fellow climbers running up and taking the stairs two at a time I heard a small soft voice begin to chant: "almost there..anything, anything, you can do anything for 15minutes!" So, like the "Little Engine That Could"  I dug deep and went up and over the stairs one step at time putting one foot in front of the other, finishing with a nice jog on the hiking trail on the otherside.

On the jog as we went into the woods my wife wanted to stop and turn around and I said let's keep going we are almost there. We have never been to this place mind you but, I was confidently telling her: We are almost there, lets go another 15 minutes." After the hike we returned to the stairs for the awkward climb down. Upon reaching the bottom we decided to ascend and descend the 125 stairs two more times before returning to the car.With each ascent and descent  I gained strength and endurance.

On the third trip down I found myself confidently smiling and encouraging another bent over climber at step 65 with these seven magical words: "Great job!! Keep going, you're almost there!!"

Peace & Blessings On Your Journey..