Fortune Cookie Friday: Starting Slow, Ending Strong

I hope you all enjoyed your Thanksgiving. Mine was smaller than usual but pleasant. Many of my extended family were out of town, so my dad and uncle joined the Baron quartet to feast on turkey, sides, and some tasty desserts. It was a nice ending to a long day of activities.

The day started early with dressing for the dank weather. My hubby, daughter, and I participated in the annual Turkey Trot, and as much as we prayed for clear skies, we were hit with a mix of rain and snow—not unexpected for this time of year.

We arrived downtown early to find a parking spot with our dear friend, Dan and went to the starting line. We were positioned far back from the line since we intended to walk instead of run. I was never much for running, especially since my knee injury, and plenty of other walkers kept us company.

I credit all the people who ran, especially the men and women who placed first in their divisions. Their fortitude is commendable. I know they trained for the event and deserve to do well.

I certainly wouldn’t get any medals for my time, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t try. I promised myself that I would do the best I could muster under the circumstances and have as much fun as possible.

We started slow since we were packed into a tight crowd. We inched, shuffled, and finally took regular steps as we dispersed into the street. I paced my steps to the beat of the music from my earbuds and sang along when I could manage my breathing.

My 8K march to the finish line was more entertaining than stressful. I had good company to chat with, and there were always many interesting costumed attendees. Our little group donned standard winter gear to keep us warm and dry, but we planned various options for next year while we walked.

As the finish line came into view—over an hour later—my husband and daughter wanted to run across it. Dan and I held back, but I challenged them to make their finish interesting. My husband smiled and ran off in zig-zag fashion, waving his hands like a madman while our daughter followed behind as if chasing him. Indeed, even the announcer at the finish mentioned his exuberance over the loudspeaker.

Dan and I picked up our pace as we approached but barely broke speedwalking acceleration. I crossed the line with a smile but was ready to move on to the next leg of our day. By this time, crowds were also forming at the end of the race. Luckily, we were able to find the rest of our party. We made a quick pit stop for some stretching, hiked to the car, and drove home to prepare for dinner and guests.

Runners learn to start a race or run at a slow pace—even walking is acceptable. Using a conservative speed to start primes them for a great closing kick and strong finish. They also learn to run through and past the finish line, not to it. This prevents them from slowing down and losing to someone else.

Much like during the race, we knew we had to pace ourselves for all the cooking and prepping once we got home, so we divided the duties and were ready with dinner at just the right time. Our conversation was light, the food was tasty, and we didn’t have much to clean when our guests left.

Whether it’s a race, a long day, or a formidable journey, pacing ourselves is important if we want to succeed. We want to sustain that endurance the whole way and end well. Then we will know it is done well.