"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders us and the sin that so easily entangles us. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus." Hebrew 12:1
I did it!!! I walked my second 5k. Not only that, but I did it in under a hour and half!! We set a goal to do try to finish in a hour and a half. My official time was one hour and 17 minutes!!! At the beginning of the race Lancette, Kyrie, and I were the walkers of the group and Ward, Noah, Derek, and Amber were the runners. Lancette and I decided that as long as we could see people in front of us, we were good. There were 2 ladies with a strollers always a little head of us.
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| The walkers! Getting Ready to start |
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| Team Bri!!! Thank you guys for you support!! I love you guys! |
I met Ward back in South Dakota. He was my physical therapist part of middle school and high school. I gave Ward a lot of grief back then, my favorite word was "I can't!" He was someone I looked up too, during a very hard time of getting teased in school. I didn't always like going to PT, because again I just wanted to be normal. I couldn't to gym class and went to therapy instead. He made my PT fun, even though he tried to make me use a cane in high school!!! NOT COOL!!!! hehehe!! One day for PT we walked down to Goldberger's for ice-cream. After Lancette and him moved to Reno, I kept in touch with them and there family. We have known each other for 20 years! They are some of my greatest friends
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| Me and Ward. My first time in Reno 12 years ago!! |
About at the half way point, our runners came back and joined us!!! This is where I started to get tired. At one point my walking stick was getting shorter. I said "My pole is going down." Amber thought I said "I'm going down!" It was fun to see all the people cheering for us. The whole way there were police monitoring the race. And the end of the race they all were telling me good job.
At one point, Lancette said I would probably cry at the end. She was right, I was crying and laughing at the same time!! I didn't catch the leprechaun, but at the end he came up at took a picture with me! I might have been that last one to cross the finish line, but I finished!!!
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| The Leprechaun was at the end waiting to pose for a picture with me!! |
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| Crossing the finish line!!! |
People say that I am an inspiration, but I don't see myself as that. I just a normal girl who wants to do what everyone else can do. I remember being younger and wanting to do everything my sisters did. I didn't want my cp to hold me back. I remember we had a tree out in our backyard. My sisters would climb up it, and I would get mad because they wouldn't "Help me" to get up the tree. Now I look back I see how crazy that was to try to climb a tree, but at the time I was determined to get up there!!!! I remember telling my mom I wanted to be on the swim team with Brooke. She said, "Brianne, you are terrified of water!!" Which I was, but with the help of Mr. Phillips I got to do a normal sport and be part of a team!!
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| After Cinderella! |
I guess my hope is that I can inspire others to get out there and try something new. I am learning that we only get one body and one life to do it. I have learned that we need to take care of our bodies. There was a time in my life, where I didn't want to work out, go for a walk, or do PT. During that time I was more tired and stressed, then I am now. I use to hate how I walk, but know that I am exercising I am walking the best I ever have! There still are days I wish I could walk "normal", or keep up with everybody in a 5k, but I am grateful for what the Lord has given me! Without cerebral palsy, I wouldn't have met some of my greatest friend!!
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