After watching my son Todd run in a race, I made my usual comment, "Todd, I could walk faster than those women run." Todd1as he knew I wasn't a runner." Listen, Mom, how about you run with me next year at this race?" Without thinking, I quickly agreed to this2. I felt this was going to be a piece of cake!
Never in my3dreams did I ever imagine what the next year would bring. When it was almost time for this race to4, Todd wasn't going to be running. He had died in a car accident. A few of his friends knew this "challenge" I had agreed to with Todd. They started to5me to run the race. I hadn't6or prepared anything. Quite7, I had almost forgotten I said I would do it.
I decided I should keep my8. Before the race, I listened to some9talking about how to run your race. I played the race over and over in my10when I listened to the tapes. The day of the race finally came. I felt pretty11. When it was time for the race, I was all dressed and ready. It was freezing cold that day, but I didn't care. I12all my warm clothes and ran with only a sleeveless shirt and shorts on. Nothing was going to13me.
No one knew what14me to run. I finished my practice run, fell on the grass, and cried my eyes out. I found that running15the stress I was feeling of losing my dear Todd.
