There's a lot of planning and training that goes into a half marathon.  It all came together when I crossed the finish line Sunday.  My time was not what I wanted.  And it was humid and hot.  Finishing was a thrill.  Eating a bag of chips, guzzling a sports drink, and scarfing down a banana -- I don't remember a time when food tasted so good.  The ice cold rag was a welcome relief.  The medal was a nice touch too.  But there's one thing that meant more than all of the race's perks and surroundings.  What made the race perfect was the one running beside me.  He would not want me to mention his name because he's not into being recognized or praised.  He is into encouragement.  He has been running a long time and served as my mentor and coach for this race.  This past summer when I told him I was running, I learned he was running too.  He was so excited that I wanted to run.  Instead of focusing on setting his own personal record, he made me his mission and ran beside me and behind me the whole way.  He could have finished 35 minutes ahead of me.  But he ran beside me as my cheering section.