Tufts 10K

Here I am with my running gal pals at the start of the Tufts 10K. We took the train to Boston, walked from Back Bay Station to the Boston Common, picked up our registration packets, and checked our bags. My fam fam caught up with us and got a picture of us before the race. Notice the dry hair.



Over 5 miles later, you can see that things have changed. I now look like a drowned rat because as soon as we hit the starting line, it started to drizzle. Moments after we crossed the finish line, the drizzle stopped.

My running buddy, K, and I ran the race together, from start to finish. She's the one who was with me when I collapsed back in May. Crossing the finish line together was an emotional moment. I felt very thankful to be able to participate in the race, to be able to run with my best time yet on that race, to share that moment with her, to have other women from Foxboro who joined us, and to have my friends and family there to cheer me on.

The Tufts 10K is a powerful race. You are surrounded by 7,000 other women, each of whom has her own story and her own reason for running. Because of the turns in the course, you have many opportunities to cheer on women who are both faster and slower than you. Families line up along Commonwealth Avenue, cheering their runners and holding up signs. While I won't deny the seriousness of what happened to me, I know that there were many women for whom this was a bigger step. It's both humbling and encouraging to think about all the stories that were out there that day.

Considering where I was in May, I am proud to say that I finished the race and shaved 8 minutes off my time compared to 2 years ago (results are here). I'll never be a fast runner, but I am certainly a thankful runner.

I hope I can do it again next year--maybe with a lot less drama!