 
I did it! All 13.1 miles. It took almost three and a quarter hours, but the feelings of accomplishment, pride, success and pain were worth it. I embarked on this journey 12 weeks before the half-marathon date, with a training plan, guidance from the SPEC gym staff and supervisor and the sheer will to complete this daunting task. It was never easy: the training, the sacrifices, and the commitment took a lot, but it was harder because here I was, deeply involved in planning a race I would ultimately run, but I could play no part in the final product coming together on race day.
Those 12 weeks did a lot for me as a Johnny-come-lately marathoner; for my colleagues who joined me on many runs around the football field and campus; for my boss who made one trek with me to the gym, dutifully providing verbal support; and for the numerous UWI staff members who bought supporter t-shirts, texted money and who came out on race day to shout their lungs out as I passed them on the route and neared the finish line.
On the Sunday before the race some of us from “The 10” decided to do our last big run along the route that took us to the Five Rivers Junction. That was a sense of accomplishment for the likes of JW [Jason Williams] and James Saunders, but on the prodding of Jeremy Bellamy, a Sir Arthur Lewis Hall resident, we did the return leg. It was harder than we thought, and it was only through the constant encouragement from each other that we made it back to the St Augustine campus. We thought then we were ready… if only we could do something about that early morning hot sun.
True to the project management style that I have become known for, in the days leading up to the race I had numerous briefing meetings, made detailed plans and reiterated roles to ensure that the Marketing Events Team were prepared for the half-marathon and would be alert at 4.30am when they were required to get to the venue.
The sounds of “eye of a tiger, you will hear me rooooar!” would mean more to me than ever as the same Marketing Events Team made sure I was prepared for my 5:55am start with their shouts of support and their words of encouragement and pride before I made my 13.1 mile journey.
I didn’t sleep well the night before, but got up on time and as instructed had pasta as I was in carb-loading mode all week. I managed however to get to the venue only a few minutes to the start. Jean-Paul, my trainer, seemed frantic to ensure I was ready and had stretched enough, giving me last second tips before the start pistol went off. And so it was just as we did so many times before we started the journey, that this time would take me to La Resource, D’Abadie and back.
Would I make it now? Only time would tell.
 Running, I felt lucky to not only be part of planning this race but also in experiencing it along the route—something the planning team would never really do. As I ran from one point to the next I heard the cheers and claps, I thought how amazing it was that these people—complete strangers—got up so early to make sure that we didn’t make the journey alone.
My family followed me on the route, taking photos, clapping, giving me that extra boost to soldier on and ensuring that I knew they were there for me.
Did I hit the wall?
I did. Many times.
My return leg was slower as the pain kicked in but as I passed each landmark, whether walking or jogging, my strategy was to conserve my energy for the last stretch. So when I left the Priority Bus Route to join the St Augustine Circular Road, I went into turbo gear, propelled by the familiar faces patiently waiting.
And so as the journey started, it crescendoed with the words... you will hear me roooar!
Really the finish line was a blur, but what remains indelibly printed in my mind is the cheers of relief, joy and excitement as I crossed; from my loved ones, my office team mates, my boss, UWI colleagues and other members of The 10.
Thank you to all those who made this possible and saw it through with me to the end. You may never know how much your calls of support, words of pride, $10 to my charity, tears of joy, thoughts, prayers and presence from overseas and here gave me the extra vigour I needed to overcome the wall and complete my first half-marathon. I did it! We did it and we should be proud that it was all for the Coalition Against Domestic Violence.
Renata Sankar is a member of the Marketing and Communications team at UWI St Augustine. |
