My Mom is my inspiration..... Who is yours?

So this past weekend was the Monument Avenue 10k. As many of you gathered from my Facebook posts I was down there cheering on my mom and uncle as they came through the finish line. This was a huge accomplishment for my mom and uncle. My mom willed herself to get out of bed early in the mornings on Saturdays to train with a team; she also walked every afternoon about 5.6 miles with my uncle. The both of them have done lots training in the rain, and despite being sick. For my mom the accomplishment was choosing to do this race, to continually train for it, and to follow through with it. My uncle, if anyone knows him, does not like to be around a lot of people. The Monument Avenue 10k brings about 50,000 plus runners/joggers/walkers alone. This number does not even to begin to account for the amount of by standers cheering them on along the way and in spite of his anxiety of large crowds he had the courage to do this race. 

When I first heard that my mom was walking in the race, I thought well that is cool. I didn't think a lot about it being a huge accomplishment at the time. I thought to myself, well I could walk it, which was a cold kind of way of thinking. The more and more I have been thinking about it, I have come to the conclusion, that I could not have done it. I would have complained the whole time, I would have to make frequent stops for water, etc. I couldn't make it because I don't have the determination that my mother had to finish this race. And 6.2 miles is a lot, I probably could not walk more than 2 or 3 miles without having to stop because I would have spasm in every muscle in my body.

Now I have never been to the Monument Avenue race before and Riley normally has dance on Saturday mornings, so I told my mom we would be unable to make it to the race, I wanted her to be surprised when she saw us. There was no way on earth, even if I had to pay $100 to park, that I would have missed this race. It took me about an hour and a half to get downtown to Monroe Park. I was so anxious, getting stuck in all the traffic, but as I was driving down Broad Street crossing over the Boulevard I could see runners and could hear cheering and I just started crying. I was so excited and so proud of my mom, and proud that she was walking in this race, proud to be the daughter of such a strong and determined woman. I finally found a parking spot about 10 blocks (maybe more, who knows) away from Monroe Park, packed Riley in the stroller and made my way up the road, practically running to Monroe Park. Once I got there we found a perfect spot right at the finish line, and we just watched all the runners cross over. They were so proud of themselves, I didn't even know them and I was cheering for them, because I was proud of them too. 

I waited about 2 hours, watching the runners cross the finish line, waving at the few runners I knew. My anticipation was building, I was so afraid I was going to miss my mom crossing the finish line. Finally I saw her and my uncle. I was shouting and cheering like a fool. I was tearing up knowing that she had finished this race. I just couldn't control myself, I wish they had the video camera on me so I could have seen my own reaction. We all enjoyed a wonderful afternoon, ate lunch at Carytown Burgers.... Yummmm. 

Our topic of conversation at lunch was which race we are ALL going to do next. It has really inspired me to get out there and walk. I have realized I don't need to run to feel accomplished or satisfied. Walking is just as strenuous as running. Next year my mom and uncle plan to jog/walk the Monument Avenue 10k, and hopefully I will be right there with them. 

Thanks for inspiring me Mom. I love you even if I don't always show it. 

This is me with the blue sign looking hard to make sure I don't miss my mom cross the finish line!