finish with heart: here’s to us
The Finish With Heart Virtual Race came and went and I think about that weekend often because it was magic. I woke up early on Halloween, took care of the dogs, then put on a pumpkin costume over a black running shirt and leggings. I traced my eyes with black eye liner and applied orange costume makeup and sparkly jewels on my face, filled my running vest with water, then drove to the Bosque Trail with a goal to run 10 miles.
It was a beautiful morning in Albuquerque with blue skies and crisp air. Through my car speakers, I blasted a song I’d been listening to for weeks - “Here’s to Us” by Kevin Rudolph. It was a song I came across by accident - one that Spotify recommended - and it became my anthem for the virtual race. I put it on multiple playlists in the weeks before the event and listened to it while making breakfast, cleaning, or any time I needed a boost.
Here's to us
And all our broken dreams
That never came to pass
We're still kings and queens
Here's to all we loved
That wasn't meant to last
Here's to everyone
Who said we never had a chance
Here's to us
The song speaks to me because this year has been one of loss, and I’m sure race participants felt that, too. The world looks and feels much different than it did eight months ago. No matter what we’ve lost, there is still so much goodness, but recognizing that doesn’t mean we have to replace the pain we might feel - gratitude and grief can both live inside us. I don’t think life is supposed to be one or the other all the time.
It’s possible to simultaneously feel opposite emotions. We can acknowledge times are tough and still celebrate our lives and accomplishments in spite of everything else, and that was the most rewarding thing about this race for me. We’re still kings and queens. We came together - apart - supported others in need, made and completed goals, and had fun. These were the main pieces of the Finish With Heart Virtual Race, and they all came together.
There were times during my 10-mile run that Saturday when I thought of all the other participants who’d donated to places and people that need assistance. I tried to whisper all of their names, and I tried to think about all of the organizations. I stopped a few times to take pictures of the changing leaves and the blue Sandia mountains that always remind me I’m home. Travis was there to greet me at my finish line, we snapped a few more photos, then I drove straight to Starbucks to get a pumpkin spiced latte.
By the time I got home, there were several finishers who’d sent emails and text messages with photos. Many of them were in costumes, too, and it was fun to see the creativity. I started putting a Google photo album together and shared it late that afternoon before taking a break to celebrate the rest of the holiday. Participants sent photos throughout the day on Sunday, with the majority of those who registered completing their goals by Monday.
More than 80 people registered for the Finish With Heart Virtual Race and I’m so grateful. After setting goals and supporting important causes, they showed up to walk, run, hike, or bike wherever they were. Some were with their family or friends, and some were alone, and yet, somehow we were all together, too, on the roads, trails and treadmills in more than 10 states.
I was scared to plan a virtual race when I first thought of it in April. I hesitated for a long time and finally invited a smaller group to join in for a July race. Most of my fear came from insecurities, but my family and friends’ enthusiasm was electric and they helped me feel like I could do this again. That’s how the Finish With Heart Virtual Race was born this fall.
What I’ve learned is that people are willing to give and show up, and it’s OK to try something new and make it up as you go. If you believe it in enough, it will all work out and people will show up to help others and have fun. This has been an unprecedented year, but there is still so much we can do together when we imagine different endings and create our own finish lines.
My advice to anyone who is looking to create new ways to gather and give during this time is DO IT! I’m obviously not the first person to think of hosting a virtual race, but I got to be creative in my own ways and it gave me something to look forward to during a long, lonely year.
Do things feel electric in your center. Share ideas you believe in with everyone you know, and others will feel the energy and join in. The world is begging for connection right now. You’ll never regret bringing others together - apart - until we can finally be together in person again.
