Annie was hurting.
By hurting I mean, she was trying to quit because she was worried she was going to lose her poop on Hazell Dell Road.
You need to understand that Annie and I have run many, many miles together. I know her well. I know when she needs a break and when she needs to suck it up and finish the job.
This was a suck it up kinda day, whether Annie liked it or not.
We had .25 miles left in our 5-mile run. That’s too close to quit and she was begging me to stop
It went down like this;
Annie: “Seriously, I’m going to poop. I can’t make it.”
Me: “You’re fine; just keep going; we’re almost there.”
3 seconds later…
Annie: “Alex, I’m going to poop. I can’t make it. I need to walk.”
Me: “We’re almost there; just keep running.”
2 seconds later
Annie: “Pleeeeeeeeeaaaaaasssse, I’m going to lose it. I can’t make it.”
Me: “Stop. You’re fine.”
1 second later
Annie: “Alex… I can’t.” (starts to walk)
Me: grabs her elbow pull and starts yelling; “ANNIE STOP! YOU ARE’NT GOING TO POOP. YOU’RE GOING TO KEEP GOING. DO YOU HEAR ME? WE DON’T POOP ON HAZEL DELL!”
Annie: Gets quiet and finishes the run (with a very respectable time I might add)
Gross?
Maybe. If you’re not a runner, you wouldn’t understand.
There’s a bigger (less messy) point here.
We don’t let our friends quit.
We don’t quit.
Sometimes you’re Annie in this story, wanting to quit, feeling like you’re going to lose your poop.
Sometimes you’re Alex, pushing your friends to do their best. Doing whatever it takes to keep ’em going.
Either way, the goal is to avoid pooping out.
The goal is to keep going.
To finish the run.
To finish the race.
Together.
PS
Thank you, Annie, for allowing me to share this story. You have been and always will be magical to me.