It’s been a few days since I posted. I apologize. I didn’t
mean to leave you high and dry. It’s been an interesting few days to say the
least. I completed a marathon, and although the experience was nothing like I
anticipated, the outcome was exactly what I hoped – I crossed the finish
line in one piece.
mean to leave you high and dry. It’s been an interesting few days to say the
least. I completed a marathon, and although the experience was nothing like I
anticipated, the outcome was exactly what I hoped – I crossed the finish
line in one piece.
It’s really hard to put into words what I endured leading up
to the race, on race day itself, and now through recovery. If you’ve been
following me on social media, you know I had a bit of a rough ride. I am truly
humbled by the experience. I was already in awe of marathoners and
ultrarunners, but to be frank, I didn’t think it was anything I couldn’t
conquer without training. Now being on the other side, however, I know
differently. I know that it takes a certain type of person to endure – and
persevere – through a distance race. It was tough in ways that are unimaginable
until you’re in the throes of it. The marathon is truly not for everyone.
to the race, on race day itself, and now through recovery. If you’ve been
following me on social media, you know I had a bit of a rough ride. I am truly
humbled by the experience. I was already in awe of marathoners and
ultrarunners, but to be frank, I didn’t think it was anything I couldn’t
conquer without training. Now being on the other side, however, I know
differently. I know that it takes a certain type of person to endure – and
persevere – through a distance race. It was tough in ways that are unimaginable
until you’re in the throes of it. The marathon is truly not for everyone.
The day after my race, when I was still out of sorts, my good friend, David, reminded me the first person to run a
marathon died at the finish.
marathon died at the finish.
The experience is truly indescribable. I’ll try to do what I
can but I think the reason it’s taken me so long to gather my thoughts and
create a post regarding my marathon experience is because I’m practically
speechless.
I had what was probably the worst race of my life. I
struggled to finish. I wanted to quit. I wanted the pain to go away. But
through the pain, under the blazing sun and soaring temperatures, despite
wanting to give up so much, I never stopped smiling. Did I have to call in the
big dogs and make some phone calls to friends to talk me through some of the
hardest miles of my life? Heck yeah. Am I ashamed of that? Absolutely not. I
was recipient of several sideways glances (is
she talking to… herself?) and I’m
sure I looked quite silly yakking it up to myself on those long stretches of
road. But those phone calls helped me pass the time – and the miles. The text
messages through miles 22 and 26 kept me laughing. I was smiling. I wanted so
badly to stop and give up and never move another inch. But I was smiling.
struggled to finish. I wanted to quit. I wanted the pain to go away. But
through the pain, under the blazing sun and soaring temperatures, despite
wanting to give up so much, I never stopped smiling. Did I have to call in the
big dogs and make some phone calls to friends to talk me through some of the
hardest miles of my life? Heck yeah. Am I ashamed of that? Absolutely not. I
was recipient of several sideways glances (is
she talking to… herself?) and I’m
sure I looked quite silly yakking it up to myself on those long stretches of
road. But those phone calls helped me pass the time – and the miles. The text
messages through miles 22 and 26 kept me laughing. I was smiling. I wanted so
badly to stop and give up and never move another inch. But I was smiling.
For much of the last third of the race, I had Spider-Man in
view in the distance. I kept my sights on him for several miles. I knew if I
lost sight of him, I was done for. He was run/walking and I just wanted to keep
up. And keep up I did. Soon enough, I caught up to him. I called out, “hey, Spider-Man!
How’re you feeling?” He was having a tough race, too. We walked together and
swapped war stories. His name is Robert. He’s run several races. Two half-marathons.
This year was his year for the marathon, too. He trained diligently just like I
had. And he was too damn stubborn to quit, just like me. I had heard before that once you get to mile 22 you can’t quit. Well, it’s true. You can’t. By then you’ve run too long, too far, and there’s no turning back. Robert and I — we were an odd pair
but a likely pair. His feet were aching. My knee was on fire. But we made it too far to give up. We finished the
race together and I have to say, it was a pretty happy finish. Two perfect strangers connected through common pain and 26.2 miles of road. It’s a memory I will have forever.
view in the distance. I kept my sights on him for several miles. I knew if I
lost sight of him, I was done for. He was run/walking and I just wanted to keep
up. And keep up I did. Soon enough, I caught up to him. I called out, “hey, Spider-Man!
How’re you feeling?” He was having a tough race, too. We walked together and
swapped war stories. His name is Robert. He’s run several races. Two half-marathons.
This year was his year for the marathon, too. He trained diligently just like I
had. And he was too damn stubborn to quit, just like me. I had heard before that once you get to mile 22 you can’t quit. Well, it’s true. You can’t. By then you’ve run too long, too far, and there’s no turning back. Robert and I — we were an odd pair
but a likely pair. His feet were aching. My knee was on fire. But we made it too far to give up. We finished the
race together and I have to say, it was a pretty happy finish. Two perfect strangers connected through common pain and 26.2 miles of road. It’s a memory I will have forever.
Overall, I think the best part of the marathon wasn’t the
run itself. It wasn’t crossing the finish line. It wasn’t the pre-race
camaraderie. It wasn’t the training runs. It was the outpouring of support that
my friends, family, and colleagues showed me throughout the 18 weeks of training, but
particularly on race day. I was shown unending support and love on the race course
with texts, phone calls, and on-course support. I came home to find a plethora
of messages on Facebook wishing me well. The next day I received even more well
wishes through supportive texts and emails.
run itself. It wasn’t crossing the finish line. It wasn’t the pre-race
camaraderie. It wasn’t the training runs. It was the outpouring of support that
my friends, family, and colleagues showed me throughout the 18 weeks of training, but
particularly on race day. I was shown unending support and love on the race course
with texts, phone calls, and on-course support. I came home to find a plethora
of messages on Facebook wishing me well. The next day I received even more well
wishes through supportive texts and emails.
Although my first marathon experience was nothing like I
anticipated, and I was miserable for much of it, I’m humbled. I’m humbled by
the distance, by the people I saw on the course, by the kindness of others, by
the perseverance of the human spirit. It was, indeed, a life-changing event.
anticipated, and I was miserable for much of it, I’m humbled. I’m humbled by
the distance, by the people I saw on the course, by the kindness of others, by
the perseverance of the human spirit. It was, indeed, a life-changing event.
Thank you to all of my friends, family, and colleagues that supported
me throughout this training cycle, and ultimately my race. Your love, support,
and encouragement have not gone unnoticed.
me throughout this training cycle, and ultimately my race. Your love, support,
and encouragement have not gone unnoticed.
Please look for my official race recap, which is forthcoming
this week. In the meantime… Run happy! And thanks again 🙂
this week. In the meantime… Run happy! And thanks again 🙂
xo
P.S. If you know Spider-Man [aka Robert] from Eastlake, tell him I said thanks for keeping me company those last few miles.
