Pain is gain (no really)

Hey everybody!

I just wanted to tell you about one of the most unique days I've ever had - plenty of pain, but also strangely enough, plenty of pure, genuine smiles.

Yesterday was the 40th Sun-Herald City2Surf in Bondi to run - a scary-sounding 14km run from the city to Bondi Beach. For those of you who've run it and don't find it tough at all - please stop reading right now HAHA.
It was my first time ever attempting such a long run - usually I'm panting like a cow (and sadly, looking like one ==) around the 3km mark.

I was panicking the night before, wondering if I'd have to be carried off in a dead faint on a stretcher, while 80,000 other runners glided by effortlessly. But in the end I guess the odds of finishing the race go up significantly if I actaully ran, so I prepared by wearing my ugliest woollen socks for luck.

And I'm sorry I can't tell you EVERYTHING that happened that day, but let me say that by the time I crossed the finish line (looking my best for the multiple cameras), I didn't even care about finishing the race anymore becuase it had just been amazing.

Smile moments:

- the one where we spotted a white blob in the crowd, only to realise as we ran up that it was a lady in a gorgeous wedding dress - she had married her fiance during the race! Then we saw her feet, clad in scuffed running joggers =)

- the one where music blasted onto the street, and we looked up to see an Elvis impersonator singing loudly on the top of his car =)

- the one where we finished the gigantic Heartbreak hill and everyone started to cheer and whoop collectively =)

- the one where I tripped over and 20 strangers stopped in concern and helped me up =)

- that last km where people who already finished still lined the sides of the road and shouted encouragingly 'Go,go,go! =)

Most of all, even though it became one of the hardest things I've ever had to do, there was this electric feeling of being part of something. Like everybody forgot the normal rules and just shared their kindness with each other, stranger or not. Like it didn't matter who you were, people reached out to you and helped you!

I can't compare that feeling to anything in the world.

A shout-out to Carmen, Annabelle and especially Loz and Sonia who saved me from that dead faint - I love you guys!

And one LAST thing, we were running for the Council Council and we've raised $300 dollars with more coming - if you'd like to sponsor us, click on the link below and give.


http://www.everydayhero.com.au/carmen_tran
Remember, Happiness Equals Bracket =)