“It is amazingly empowering to have the support of a strong, motivated, and inspirational group of people.” ~Susan Jeffers

Support is a funny thing sometimes.
Sometimes I am sooo motivated. So stubborn. So self assured on this journey that I sometimes forget that I NEED other people.
I get to thinking that I am so strong. So clever. So determined that I don’t need ANYONE…
And while sometimes that IS true…
There are times…Times like yesterday, when I desperately need others…
So very early yesterday morning, I took myself down to Downtown Columbus for the Capital City Half Marathon and Commit to Be Fit 5k. This is my second year doing this particular race. And to be clear, I did the 5k…NOT the half marathon. Someday though…Someday…
This was my second event of this year and always a great kick off to the Summer 5 and 10k season for me. And as I was heading to my corral…(Yeah, corral…Just like a heard of cattle…) LOL, I looked around at alllll the friends and families that had come down to cheer on their member…They had signs. Chairs. Balloons. Etc…

And it made me sad. A deep sadness way down in my soul that I just couldn’t shake off.
You see, I have been doing these for 7 years now. I did my first 5k in May of 2004 and I have never looked back…Never stopped. I do hikes, walks, runs. I do 5k’s, 10ks, and everything in between.
I am gearing up, HOPEFULLY this year, for my first bike marathon and I HOPE my first obstacle course. WATCH ME GO GO GO!!!!
If you had asked me ten years ago, as I sat around fat, unhealthy, and out of shape, unable to walk a flight of stairs without resting, if I ever would ever do something like this, I would have laughed in your face.
From there. To here.

I do anywhere from 3-9 of these events per year now. I do it for me. For the challenge. For the feeling of completion. For my body.
And yeah. I can’t help it. And I do not apologize for it. I AM VERY VERY proud of myself…I am.
And in alllllllll of these events, never, not once, have my group of friends and family came out to support me.
And that was my sadness.
Not to walk with me. Not to meet me at the finish line.
And yesterday it struck me hard. And I am not sure why. I have done sooo many of these I have lost count…And it has never really bothered me…But yesterday, I guess it did.
It made me angry.
Angry at myself for never telling them what I needed or wanted from them. Angry for not telling them how much it would mean to me to see one person holding a sign saying “GO DAWN GO”. Or to see my mother at the finish line to say “I am so proud of you Dawn” 7 years of events and I have done them primarily on my own. And it kind of stinks.
How did this happen??
My friends and family are AWESOME!!! I love my family! I love my friends! They are a GREAT group of people. So how then did the importance of this fall through the cracks???
I don’t really know…
All I know is that yesterday while I was walking…And processing all this…I decided to use that anger to propel myself to the finish line. To try to beat my last years time by five minutes. That was my simple goal. Five minutes.
And as I looked around at all the people…The groups on the side of the road cheering on ME, a total stranger, and I was sooo grateful. Those strangers. Volunteers. Just nameless other people cheered ME on. And I used it. I needed it.
And I started thinking hard about how very important it is to have support on this journey…
I was feeling particularly down. Then I looked to my right and there was B. I met B 3 years ago. Before he met me he had never done anything athletic besides picking up a beer. Yet he jumped right on in when I said “Hey, we are doing a 5k next weekend”.
He has never blinked an eye. Never said no. Half the time he gets a quick heads up two weeks prior that “Oh, by the way, we are doing a 10k in two weeks…” LOL
He has been beside me for ever single one in the last three years. He doesn’t pay the entrance fees. Which at first worried me. But as he likes to say “Dawn, they cant arrest me for simply walking next to you”…He doesn’t need the tshirt. Or the medal. Or the time. He doesn’t care. He simply does it for me. As my support.
I call him my pace car. He walks, or runs, and I do my best to keep up.
So even though I was feeling sad…And more than a bit sorry for myself. Just seeing him there beside me once again, made me realize I am still a lucky gal. For some partners and spouses just don’t support us in this battle for fitness…And some, Like B, do!
Support…support on this journey is CRITICAL. If you are NOT getting it at home, you have to go out and get it on line, support groups, friends, etc…
I encourage you to go get some support.
And I encourage you to also GIVE back some support!!!!
Because the sad truth is…This IS my journey. This is YOUR journey. And as much as people CAN support me…And sometimes do, at the heart of the matter…At the core…It is alllll about me…My journey…My health…My life…They cant do it for me…I have to get myself there.
I am responsible for getting myself to EVERY finish line. I have done it on my own. And I have done it with someone besides me…
And let me tell you. Although both ways produce a very pleasurable feeling of self accomplishment. It is much more pleasant when someone whispers in your ear “I am so proud of you!”
So remember friends…Be support. Find support.
For YOU ARE A CHAMPION!!!!

P.S. Oh! By the way! I didn’t QUITE shave off five minutes. I shaved off 4! My best time EVER at one of these events…5K completed in 51 minutes…I am aiming for 45 next time!!! All because I knew someone was beside me cheering me on….