I was promised that if I followed my doctors instructions that I would be able to finish the race. Great! Problem, I wasn’t seeing a doctor. So, I went to a chiropractor. He went to work on both feet. I got better but I wasn’t whole. I knew it was going to be a tough race. But I thought to myself if I have enough faith, follow the chiro’s instructions, and run carefully I might not get swept. Three weeks later I was off to the races.
The Hollywood Studios Tower of Terror Ten Miler race night was here! I got into my corral, walked the 1 mile stretch to the start line, and with an explosion of fireworks and techno music I was off! I felt good. I could do this! Pain. Pain. PAIN! Crud. My LEFT foot was saying “Howdy, I hate you.” Okay, more walking than I anticipated was about to happen. Mile 1 ½ and I was running with the sweeper balloon ladies. Those are the gals that tie balloons to themselves and set the concrete 16 minute mile pace you have to abide by. Mind you, they are the LAST to leave the start line. So you can imagine my panic.
Mile 2 and my entire left leg went numb with sharp needle pain. Towards mile three the balloon ladies were shouting “Stay with us, be in front of us, or you will be swept. This is a hard cut off!” I was behind them. The thought began to enter into my head “It would be okay to quit now. Everyone knows you are running injured.” But then I began to think about the blessing I had received. I was promised I would be able to finish this race. Not that it wouldn’t be difficult. I had followed the orders from my doc. Then my hand touched the Faith Bound Journey iron on logo I had placed on my sleeve. I thought of you guys. I knew that I had been in some prayers and thoughts. I then thought about the lesson I taught to my youth that there were blessings when you followed the commandments and had faith. My next thought echoed President Uchtdorf’s words (which I read later)…
“Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters—my dear friends—please, first doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith. We must never allow doubt to hold us prisoner and keep us from the divine love, peace, and gifts that come through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.”
I dug down deep and pushed ahead of the balloon ladies to beat the hard 3 mile cut off. With my numb yet painful leg I pressed on while they passed me yet again. Mile 4 feelings came back to my leg which brought a burn in my heel. Up and over an overpass. I used gravity to once again push me past the balloon ladies. As I neared mile 5, and the medical tent, the same negative thoughts came to my head “No disgrace to quit. You made it half way. You could sit back with ice and a rootbeer and cheer for your family as they cross the finish line. No big deal!” But then the thought of faith and you guys, and never quitting came back to me. I touched the logo and pushed myself through the dark dirt road, past the balloon ladies again, and got a good lead.
Then Heavenly Father sent me a gift. Someone else to encourage so I could take my mind off of my own pain and worry. I never got her name but we fearfully ran from the B.L.s (balloon ladies) together for the next two miles. Have you ever watched Friday the 13th? You know how Jason only walks while the victims run for their lives? Yet somehow he always catches up and kills them? Yeah, that was the B.Ls without homicide. They were soon past me again while I struggled to keep up. Then they shouted something glorious “Mile 8 is another hard cut off. But we think if you make it past that and into the park you WILL NOT GET SWEPT!” Okay, I can do this. And yet at mile 7 ½ they were 50 feet ahead of me and pulling away.
I sprinted. I could not get swept now. Not after all I had been through. Not after the promise I was given. I actually asked myself if I wanted to give up or finish. I wanted to finish! I started running. I was passing people. I was 50 feet behind the B.L.s but I was running. See ya mile 8! I could see the park up ahead. Bikes were all around me (they are the official sweepers who will stop you) but I ignored them and went faster while gritting my teeth. Pain in both feet! Suddenly I entered Hollywood Studios and my mp3 player kicked up the song “I Can Go The Distance”. It was mile 9! I had made it! I would not get swept! I was grinning from ear to ear and fighting back the tears.
My little friend came up behind me and said “Remember me?”. We congratulated each other and walked the last ¾ mile together. The last ¼ mile I really couldn’t run. I pushed, grinning like an idiot, until I saw the finish line. I began a slow trot, looked for my family in the stands, saw them, fought back more tears, said a prayer of gratitude, crossed the line, and gave Goofy a huge hug. I DID IT! WE did it! My Father had kept His promise and had helped me along the way. You guys helped me along the way. My family helped me along the way.
It wasn’t until the next day when I saw the prophet’s words from conference…
“The difficulties which come to us present us with the real test of our ability to endure. A fundamental question remains to be answered by each of us: Shall I falter, or shall I finish?”
I chose to have faith in His promises and finish my race. I know with Him ALL things are possible. So, don’t give up my friends though the trials of life befall you. You can go the distance.
