MARATHON

I did it on accident. Registering for a Marathon? Craziness! I meant to register for the ½ Marathon! There was no way I could finish a whole Marathon! Do you know how far that is? 26.2 miles. But, as I thought about it and my friends offered encouragement, I knew it wasn’t a mistake. My sub –conscious had other goals for me.

I trained. I was slow. But really the only goal I had for this race was to finish. A dear friend who completed her first Marathon just a year before told me I would never look at a ½ the same way again.

Saturday, November 14, 2010. Race day. I hadn’t slept well. I never do the night before. I got up, got dressed. A friend had told me that I should put my name on my shirt so that people would know who I was and offer encouragement. Great idea! In past races they have yelled, “Great job, Blue!” in reference the color of my shirt. So I put my name on my shirt. I kissed my kids and husband for luck and headed out the door. My father-in law, sister-in –law and nephew head to the start. My nephew is 14 and he ran the ½. (He rocked it!)

Ready, Set, Go!

I always start too fast, too fast for me. I get caught up in the crowd and can’t help myself. About a mile in my shins started hurting. This has happened in every race I’ve done. I just need to walk it out for a bit. As I’m walking I pass a group of people. No, jerks! Holding up signs, pointing and laughing. The signs said, “What part of running is walking?” At that moment, I hated that city, I hated that race. People are supposed to line the streets offering encouragement. I actually started to cry. I ripped my name off my shirt, pulled down my sunglasses even though I did not need them and tried to become invisible.

Then, I got mad. I got mad at them for laughing. I got mad at myself for letting them affect my world. I’ve never felt like I fit in. I’m not popular. I never have been. But what I am is strong and tough. One thing I’ve learned about myself over the last 42 years is that I’m not a quitter. This is especially true when I’ve had people tell me I’m not good enough. I have to prove them wrong. I was going to finish this race no matter what. It wasn’t going to be fast, but I was going to cross that finish line with my head held high and get that finisher’s medal.

My legs felt better and I started running again. There were crowds of people at Mile 3, I was starting to feel good about doing this again. Running by one of the Music Grandstands, the lead singer was offering up high 5’s. I took one. At mile 4 people were handing out Mardi Gras beads. I took some purple ones. At Mile 5 beer was offered, I didn’t partake. J At Mile6 was a boy looking shyly over a sign that said “Thank you.” (This race benefited the Susan G Komen race for the Cure. I cried again as I imagined his story.) At mile 7, a produce company was handing out bananas. I needed some energy.

At Mile 8, I see my Father-in - law. Thank you.

Mile 9, there are the beautiful faces of my boys, holding signs that say, “Great Job Mommy!” and “YOU ROCK!” They offer me kisses and ask if I need anything else. I say no, smile and am on my way. I feel really good.

Mile 10.8. The Split! I’ve always taken the easy route (13.1) but this time I take the hard one (26.2). Wow! What happened to all the people? I look at a few of the marathoners who are walking and said, “Are you guys ready?” They said, “Let’s go!” and off we went. I look to my right and I see the marathon leaders hitting mile 23. I’m at Mile 11. This is going to be a long day. I mention to one of my fellow slow-pokes that the leaders were making me feel really slow. He told me not to think about them, this was my Marathon.

My boys found me again at Mile 13. They gave me some fuel and I was off again. At mile 14 a young man with Down’s Syndrome was dancing to the music one of the bands was playing and giving out High 5’s. I took one.

At Mile 15 I see my boys again. A woman running with me told me I had a beautiful family. I have an amazing family. I took my husband’s running jacket and we headed into the country. Mile 18, they are there again. And I see my boys one last time between 20 and 21. I’m on my own now until the end. Everything hurts. My back aches from the pounding. My knees hurt and my feet have blisters. I can’t stop. At Mile 21 there is that young man with Down’s Syndrome again. I cannot believe he is still there. I take another High 5.

At about Mile 22 I start walking with Richard. He has an injury to his foot and he’s in a lot of pain. We talk and walk and agree to at least run through every mile marker.

My Father-in –law meets me at Mile 25. He walks with me for a bit and says that it’s right around the corner. Not really, but that’s ok.

Finally, there is the Alamodome. We start running again. Everything hurts but we are almost done. Excuse me?! Uphill to the finish?

There is my husband and my littlest. Littlest starts running with me, well he was faster than me at that point. We turn the corner, and there is the finish line. Off to my right is my family; My Mother-in law and her husband, my Sister-in law and my nephew, my husband and my Oldest.
Then, I hear my name announced and the guy told everyone I had just finished my first Marathon. How did the guy in the chute holding the microphone know who I was? It felt amazing and gave me strength. Littlest and I crossed with our heads held high, fists in the air and smile on our faces. Littlest accepted my medal for me.

I did it! I finished a marathon. I Rocked!

When’s the next race?

ROCK ON!