LUCK
Would you believe it, as luck would have it, I received this in my email yesterday. On February 26th, I received an email from ACTIVE saying that they would be giving away 10 entries to ACTIVE members. I filled out the form and sent it into cyber mail thinking it was a long shot but I didn't have anything to lose. I told my friend and she entered as well. We went running that weekend and daydreamed about BIG SUR. I have been speaking about this race for years and any close running buddy will tell you, this is THE RACE. The one on my bucket list of all races. If I were told that I could only run one more marathon, this is the one I would choose. I was already planning on signing up for the lottery this year and I was a bit bummed about it being a lottery since I never win this type of thing. I got lucky... or did I?
FATE
The first time I heard about this race, I remember listening in awe. It was one of my husband's best friends and he raved on and on that this is a must do race. I remember thinking I would have to do this race one day. I followed it but never signed up thinking of time frames, etc flights, but I always told everyone that I would do it one day. They switched the registration to a lottery and I told my husband I would start entering the lottery every year (beginning this year) and that I probably wouldn't get in until I was 60 but I would do this race one day. Fate apparently had another plan, or was it something else?
FAITH
What can I say about 2014? In a nutshell, a tiny one, it was a rough, trying year. My mom's health deteriorated and I was sad. I kept on with my training because it is one thing I am in control of. The rest of life circles around us. It's as if we are all planets in our own solar systems. Sometimes we can navigate through issues, other times we must dodge things and other times, we are floating by, holding our breath waiting to see what happens. I felt anger at different things and gratitude for others but the sadness carried day to day. The new year came around and I made a promise to God. I said "Ok, this year sucked but, I'm going to just fully trust that everything that happened had a reason for happening. I'm going to choose to be happy despite anything that happens around me. I choose to smile every day because I'm healthy, I have an amazing husband and two healthy children so that means life is great. Every day is a gift and if I have to deal with some bad along the way, my job is to trust You and get through by being the best mother, wife, daughter, sister, aunt and friend I can be to those I love. And to be happy because every day is a gift I get so I need to find the good in every single day". And I kept my promise. On the worst days, I look into my children's eyes and feel happy and lucky. I let the bad go, I let the good in and move on. On the best days, I have a song in my heart and I feel great and thankful. Every day, I choose happy. Speaking to my sister I compared the last few months to a marathon where you need to pick something positive to focus on.
And then, Big Sur. Last night, as my head spun thinking how amazing this opportunity was, and how the training would be intense since I am not at marathon mileage right now, I also thought that this race was going to be difficult. Then I had another thought. Big Sur and Big Sir sound the same. So bring on the hills and bring on the 26.2 miles again (this will be my second marathon).
When I cross, I'm crossing two finish lines. One to the Big Sur Marathon and one for the Big Sir that makes it all possible.
Sometimes, you get lucky and realize that fate has everything to do with faith...
(and , one more thing, THANK YOU to ACTIVE for having this getaway!)
