This One's For You

So tomorrow's the Warrior Dash, or, Nat's next reckless step to becoming a walking bruise.
It's strange. The day before the Spartan Race last month, I was a nervous, terrified wreck. I'd never done anything like it before, hadn't prepared much at all, and felt really isolated knowing that I was doing this alone. It was a day of self-talk and ice cream, the only thing differentiating it from a day before a major exam being the ice cream. It's difficult to describe, but it was not a happy place. It was rather one of self-doubt and overall negative vibes, and I spent the whole day trying to pull myself out of the rut. I even knew at the time that it was silly to take it so heavily, because from the start there was nothing to prove. My final resolve was to take the race exactly like I would an exam, and I did, and just before the race something made me smile and it was all downhill from there. Or rather, uphill. Most of the running is uphill.
This race is hitting me differently. I woke up this morning pumped with more energy than I've had in weeks. I didn't even realize how busy my day was until it was over, and I could have eaten a 5K for breakfast. My coworkers would attest that with that kind of energy it's a relief I don't spike my morning coffee. I can't wait to run tomorrow. If I wake up in the morning feeling half as good as I did today, I'll fly through it with ease. So what's so different?
I've cornered my husband into running with me. I've also learned in the last while that one of my coworkers is running it, too, and the trashtalk around the office has been fantastic. Today I found out an old colleague is running as well. I'm not alone this time.
No man is an island.  I've watched and learned over the years that as much as solitude is sometimes the only gateway to solace, people need each other. We count on each other for the smallest, stupidest things, and so much as a smile, a second opinion, or a vote of confidence can make the greatest difference in our lives.
What made me smile at the last race? In the hour before the race I paced around, nervous and resenting that my husband couldn't be there. Then I went into "exam" mode and stretched and warmed up - it no longer mattered what I thought about doing this alone. Two minutes before the race started, they had us line up, asking slower people to hug the back. I lined up in the back. And waited. Then there was a tap on my shoulder, and I turned around to find a friend of mine who had been mountain biking in the area and rode down to see what this was all about. He wished he could try it, said it looked easy enough. And that was all I needed. A smile, a second opinion and a vote of confidence. I can't describe the relief I felt in that moment. It's well-known in my circles that I try a lot of arguably reckless activities, and I have yet to regret a single one of them, but at the heart of each one lies an element of hesitation and fear, challenges to overcome and, in some cases, battle scars proudly worn for days after. I'm proud of who I am and the things I do, but we are social creatures. We would accomplish so much less without the support and confidence of those who know us best. 
Tammy, (because I know you're reading this), thank you so much for being in my corner. There are no words for how much it means to me. If the last one was just for me, this one's for you.