Finish Line Magic

Kenny participated in his first in-person RunDisney race yesterday! I dipped by toe back into racing with some very different parameters and participated in a 5K with Kenny, my bionic foot. I am thankful. Thankful that I can move and walk with minimal pain. Thankful that I could investigate if there was still magic at the finish line. I cried at almost every finish line I crossed as a runner Pre-Kenny, and now that I’ve had surgery and some broken hardware, the doctors have encouraged me to stay active, but avoid running to forestall future foot issues. So I’m looking to be creative and support Kenny any way I can.

I woke up at 2 am, dressed as Chef Louis, drew a mustache on my face, and drove to get to the race on time. I stood in the corral, dreary and attempting to stay warmed up, waiting with my friend Nathan, and listening to the emcees interview folks before every corral wave was released, I realized something: everyone here has an incredible story.

One woman was celebrating four years cancer-free.

One started running for mental health release through Covid and lost lots of weight over the past four years.

One was participating to raise money for a cause dear to his heart.

And Kenny was there too celebrating his first RunDisney race. He even got a friendship bracelet of encouragement from a fellow racer.

The refrain from these runners being interviewed as they prepared to start was, “Just Keep Swimming.” Put one foot in front of the other on the course and in life and you’ll be okay. RunDisney is the most encouraging, creative, collaborative, early morning walk you’ll ever experience.

One of my favorite moments on the race happens when you know the finish line is near and you’re about out of gas. You come around a corner back stage and there is a full gospel choir singing and dancing and having church at 4 am. I cry every time. It always gives me the energy to finish strong. After I crossed the finish line, high-fived Nathan, received my medal, and hydrated some, I got to witness something even more special. The crowds had thinned out significantly, after all, I was walking this race so I finished well into the second half of the racers. I was walking to my car to drive home and heard a commotion start. There were racers still trickling in sporadically, but the clean up crew was standing by awaiting the final racer to clear the area and prepare for the next race. Then I understood the reason for the commotion: a woman, traveling alone with multiple mobility aids and a challenged gait came into view and we knew she was the last racer on the course. I got to witness her struggle to complete the last 0.1 miles as the race announcers reminded us why we were here today: because today we can do this race. Because today we celebrate health, and wholeness that can move us forward. There will be days that we cannot complete, but it is not this day!

The fans and runners who still lingered rushed back to the stands surrounding the finish line to cheer this woman, named Maggie, through. The cowbells rang. The whoops rose. The crowd clamored for a better view. I love that we threw this much effort into cheering for the slowest person on the course. I think it was because so many of us have known times when we could not have completed this race due to our own health restrictions. So to witness Maggie overcome her own challenges was so beautiful and certainly worthy of the hoopla.

Maggie crutched her way toward the finish line as Miley Cyrus’ “The Climb” soundtracked her grit and canons of confetti exploded showering Maggie and her accomplishment in fanfare as she crossed the finish line. And I started crying. Although I misted at my own finish line crossing — this was the magical finish line moment — 100’s of strangers cheering for Maggie as she raced against herself, against not finishing, against not even starting.

If you are a Maggie – Just keep swimming. Keep going. Take the next step and share your story and struggles and triumphs and trust that other people want you to succeed and will show up to cheer you on when you find your finish line.

If you are a Kenny – returning to what once was possible, celebrating a comeback, but aware of what has been lost, then don’t compare yourself to prior glory or accomplishments – celebrate today. Be grateful for today.

If you are a human – be a cheerleader; make noise and show up for people doing big things and competing against their own self doubts. It is so meaningful and may even fill your heart as well as cheering for Maggie did for mine.

I can confirm: There is still magic at the finish line. And it is best celebrated together.