Friends and Running

There have been times here in Oklahoma I have thought I lacked good friends. I have longed to be with my friends that are scattered across the United States but Sunday I realized what a true friend I had here.

I had a goal to run 19 miles on Sunday. Due to surgery and some illness I had not run more than 3 miles in 5 weeks. So this was quite the goal. At work on Saturday I was talking to my friend about my 19 mile conquest and my fears about not finishing it, especially because the marathon is right around the corner. I told her my plans to run the Lake Hefner loop twice and how I feared mentally I wouldn't make myself go around the second time.

Without a second thought she offered to meet me for loop number two. I couldn't believe it. How many people offer to run 9.5 miles with you, especially when they have never run more than 3???

I realized at that point that I do have true friends here in Oklahoma. I have friends that are behind me and hope to help me in whatever I do. As much as I miss my friends that are spread across the country, I have made some great friendships here in Oklahoma.

When I rounded the bend at Lake Hefner to begin loop number 2 I had the biggest smile on my face. There was a friendly face to push me through the second loop holding an ice cold Gatorade.