The Best Race Ever

It is so funny to me how your expectations of something,pales in comparison to the real thing. That when you wake up, expecting to do one thing.. and then something even better happens..This morning,as I was getting ready to compete my hardest and fastest in my first 10K race,my course changed.
My daughter, Regan, who was running in the 5K portion, lost her partner for unforeseen reasons. Regan was very distressed, as she had never run a race before, and was expecting, needing, and excited about running this race with her Aunt. But, as we know, stuff happens, plans change, and there was no way she could run with Regan. Regan had to make a decision. To run the race without her partner, or not run in the race at all.
At first, when she heard the news, she was sad and confused as to what she was going to do. She wanted to complete her race that she had been training for., but she does not like change. I could tell she was agonizing over her decision, but I also knew it had to be her own.
She decided she would do the run. As she got ready, there were tears, from her being afraid of doing this race alone. So, after much discussion,Regan and I decided to do the first 3 miles together, and that I would do my last 3miles on my own. This still bothered her, as she didn't want me to mess up my time, she wanted me to do my best race..and to be honest I was worried about that too! However, I convinced her that we would do it together, and everything would work out.
Regan and I started the race, and as we came upon the crossroads to go the 5k route or the 10K route, she choose to go with me. She took the longer, harder route.
At around 2 miles, we hit dirt road, and she began to get a bleeding blister on the back of her right foot, she was struggling. We walked, we ran, she cried.. I thought it was about her blister, but it wasn't, she was crying for me. She felt she was holding me back,she wasn't thinking of herself, she was worrying that I was not having the race that I had anticipated.. I stared at her in amazement.I was worried about my time too, not her foot, and I thought that was what she was crying about. Man, it really sucks when your own child embarrasses you,shames you from your own self centeredness..At that moment my daughter became the teacher and I the student, What an incredible young woman... Regan taught me so much today.She humbles me. She taught me that ..
1.Its your race.. you choose to run..
2.You may go faster alone, but you can go further together
3.When you are hurting, put someone else's feelings first, and you don't feel so bad about yourself.
4.In life.. things happen.. its your choice that decides who you are,not the circumstance.
5.Finish your race...
Regan was in so much pain at the 3rd mile.. I had her go straight, while I turned right. She finished her four miles well, she finished strong. Her grandfather would have been proud! I got to the finish line, and she was waiting with my brother.. We were so happy.. I cried.. she cried.. this time tears of joy. Tears for my father.. Tears for how proud I am of my daughter..MY daughter.. My daughter.. I have never been so blessed and proud in that moment.
Yeah, waking up this morning , I was not expecting the race I ran.. my time was terrible, but I had the best race that I could have ever hoped for! My father would have been proud of me..
Racing is not always about the win,or your time, its about the journey along the way.