Cheer Squad for #girlgang BAA half

Sunday, Sunday. Sunday. Today we have close to 10 ladies that are running the BAA half today. Many of them signed up for the BAA Medley this will be their final race for the distance medley. They had to sign up for a 5k, 10k, and half.

I had never participated in the BAA half. This was an experience to watch them and see the behind the scenes race process. Some of the ladies had run the race before. The ones that had run and was on the cheer squad, this was their first time seeing it as a supporter.

The half started in Franklin Park. Which, to me is “ our park”. We run in it all the time. To see over 6,500 people running in it was odd to me, yet exciting.

My plan was to get there early. Send everyone off( race started at 8). Then walk over to church( which starts at 9 and it was across the street). Then after mass walk back over and see everyone finish. Well that didn’t happen. I didn’t go to teach. I stayed the entire time. The weather was muggy and it got hot for a second. I was informed about some hills that hurt.

Being on the observer side and seeing people come in, I saw them pass out and some could barely make it pass the finish line.

My heart was so big to see my #girlgang member finish her first half. She cranked it up to finish( 2:39:00) and then she was in super pain. They had to put her in a wheel chair after she crossed. This is what it is all about. She had the heart and tears afterward because she did something she thought she could never do.

I don’t think the women know how much they encourage and motivate me. It’s not the elite folks who can do this. It’s the people finishing up in the middle and last. That’s the magic