Finish Strong - My Marathon Experience

Doing the marathon was not just some random thing that I wanted to do! Three months a go, my friend, Lisa signed up for the marathon, and she asked if she can run in honor of Anto Chandra. I then asked when was the marathon, and found that it would be a day after Anto's passing first anniversary. I quickly realized that this was not a coincidence, this was something that I should do!

Okay fast forward till the day of Marathon, I woke up at 4.30 in the morning, ate breakfast, and rendezvous with Lisa at her house. When we arrived at the starting line, the rain was pouring hard! We were already wet before starting the race, and the wind kept blowing hard! It was not a very good start! Wet and cold! Then onto the first five minutes of running, my ipod stopped playing songs, blame it on the rain. In my heart, I was like "Lord, really? raining? then no song throughout the whole race?" But then I kept encouraging myself, I didn't want to run the race with a bad attitude. So I sang one of Israel Houghton song, "Surely Your goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life." and of course the song "I still have joy"

The first five miles was pretty easy breeze, even with my wet clothes and squeeking shoes. I was also so worried about my feet; Wet socks, continuous repetitive movement for 26 miles is never good for any feet. I kept praying for no blisters, peeling skin, or toe nails falling off because they were all great possibilities. But there was nothing else I could do but just kept going. For energy replenisment, I stopped at every aid station, they gave away water or electrolyte replacement drink almost every 2 miles. They also offered gummy bear, pretzel, and also this jelly-like carbs replacement. It tasted like honey but the texture was very unexpected, like thick vaseline. The volunteers at the marathon were great helper, they stayed and cheered for us even in the rain. They truly served a great purpose in the marathon. Using the bathroom during the race was gross, and I will not explain further about the porta-potty.

I encountered this grandma who out-walked me, unbelievable! I tried to pass the grandma by running, but dear grandma was so consistent with her pace that I finally gave up. Many people asked me, was there a point in the race where I thought "Melissa, what were you thinking?!? The answer is yes, a few times. First, in the very beginning where it was raining hard. Second, I think about mile 14, just barely passed the half point. Then every single second, at mile 18 till finish. We passed by St. John's bridge and University of Portland, I was excited to pass both places before. But due to exhaustion, I couldn't concentrate on the view. I was only able to focus on moving my legs.

The last 8 miles of the race were the hardest. Then one volunteer cheered "Keep going, remember to finish your race strong!" Then I immediately thought of Anto, how he finished his race, life race, strong! I was consumed with different emotion, and I just cried. I prayed that even though this is not a race about my life, but I don't want to give up, I need to finish, and finish strong.

Before I always make fun of people who speed walk, I just think that the movement is funny. But low and behold, I found myself doing the same exact movement, I realized that It actually worked, it made me walk faster. I focused on one mile at a time, and conquered those miles with my speed-walk, until I reached my last mie.

I was so pumped up that it was my last mile. Then as I was walking, I saw my sister! This was actually one of my happiest and memorable moment of my life. I ran to her and she to me; We both cried and hugged one another! All my pain and sorrow went away when I knew that I was about the cross the finish line. So I kept going, and there it was the FINISH LINE!

God is good! Sometimes in life, we are so focused on the problems in front of us, and think that we have bad karma on hand. I could have thought my first marathon race was in the rain, it has been 20 yrs that the Portland Marathon was held without rain. Or my ipod not functioning in the beginning and that I had nothing to listen to for the entire race. But no, I should not focus on those negativity. But look at what the Lord has done! I finished the race, and I finished without any injuries whatsoever. No blisters, no toe nails falling off, no pulled muscles. I know it was truly God's hand who sustained me and protected me from evil things.

-Melissa