Donita, my sister is someone I mention a lot in everyday life. I'm always so proud of her and amazed at the life she is accomplishing. She is a new small business owner and a mediator with gumption. She is a doting and amazing mother whose world revolves around her family in a good way. But today I saw something about my sister that made her my superhero. She is simply amazing.
We, our Taylor 5k group, finished our 2nd 5k in our hometown today. It was hot and 3 long miles to say the least. I hit my first wall. I know it's only 3 miles, but I've been battling some back issues and allowed myself to get dehydrated… which led to some wicked harsh leg cramps. I was miserable on that last mile. I wouldn't have finished if she hadn't been there encouraging and hobbling with me.
Donita is a jogger now and completed her 5k in 35 minutes, She was the first female with a stroller to finish. Not to shabby indeed considering that we are all fairly new to this thing. But she came back for me. I was in the last of the pack… actually the last… but that's to be expected.
Without Donita there I don't know how I would have done. Again, I hit the wall – Hard. But Donita drops her stroller and little rock star off with Dad – our happy cheerleader who brought cold towells for everyone (yea he rocks). She grabbed three bottles of water – two bananas and half a bagel and starts walking back up the 5k path. On the way back she passes out water to part of Team Taylor and makes her way to me.
There she continues to encourage and push me to finish. I thought I was going to crash on a bench and Donita had run ahead. But she came back with renewed determination. There were people waiting for me. People I didn't know who believed/hoped/expected me to finish this blasted thing. We rounded the bend and we heard cheers. In the lifetime movie of the week this would have been the climatic finish followed by some brief writting stating what we went onto accomplish.
We finished, I didn't finish. I wasn't able to finish this race. But WE, Donita and I, finished. I think she counts for completing 2 5ks that day. Do you see why she is my hero?
