Thursday January 11th, 2007
10 months ago, I made a decision that would change my life forever.
Originally it was a decision to train and complete a half marathon…losing weight, getting in shape and challenging myself along the way. I knew a marathon might be in my future if I could successfully complete half of it. I have never been a runner, never ran more than a mile in my life, the task seemed nearly impossible. But I started. And I stuck to it. I frequently posted my progress on these boards and was met with an overwhelming amount of support and encouragement. So much so that I was convinced that a full marathon was in the cards way before I ever thought possible.
Signing up for that marathon was a moment I’ll never forget. My heart was racing as I submitted my info and received the confirmation. I envisioned a long road full of difficult running, intense cross training and so many unknown factors associated with such an event. In the end it was the unknown factors that will stay with me forever.
In the end, the experience that is a marathon is not about how fast you ran, how many gels you consumed or what food you ate the night before. It’s about heart. It’s about what you have inside of you. Getting thru the training is the physical reward, cause believe me, if you can run 18 you can run 26.2. The race itself is both the reward for having gone thru that difficult training, and one of the best pure mental gifts you can receive.
My race report is not about split times or even the finishing times. It’s about what I saw…what I felt…the things that made the marathon what it is, the unknown things that I never thought about going into the race.
My memories are mental snapshots. Like the snapshot of seeing a woman on the side of the road limping in pain, with a bloody red sock…and later seeing her running again. The image of 20 or so US Military troops lined up during a tough portion of the course, hands outstretched, hi-fiving every runner as we went by. The sight of the red carpet rolled out for us as we entered MGM. Running thru the castle on our way from Tomorrowland to Adventureland in the Magic Kingdom. The image of the Finish line banner as we made the turn into the Epcot parking lot. The kindness of a casual park tourer who offered his water to a girl that had been tripped up on the course. The sounds of random spectators shouting out our names as we ran by “Go Scott!! Looking great!! You can do it!!” The inspiration of seeing a blind runner at mile 21 being guided along the course by her partner, with only a wet towel separating them. The random humorous Sharpie sponsored signs around mile 17 during a hot and miserable trek around the recycling plant (like “how do deer know to cross at those yellow signs”). The sight of a severely limping runner declining the use of a wheelchair after crossing the finish line.
When it’s all said and done and you are wearing your medal around the world, fellow marathoners never ask “what time did you finish it in”…they opt for a simple “congratulations”. It’s the fitting one word that puts a cap on grueling training and a long race. They know…they’ve been there…and now I have too.
Will I run another one? Probably. There is certainly an addicting feeling that you get. Not one of personal gain or achievement, but one of comaraderie for the fellow runner. I wouldn’t run again to seek some personal best, but I’d run again to live the experience.
Thanks to every single person who posted on this journal, and to those who I met during the marathon weekend. Thanks for helping me achieve a dream. Support and encouragement are irreplaceable values that I could never have done this without. The idea that people from around the country can come together on a message board and support each other so amazingly without even really knowing one another is incredible and something I’ll never forget. Each of you have played an important part in a lifetime achievement for me. I wish I could properly thank all of you…honestly, I wouldn’t even know how to begin. So please accept a big “thank you” and know that it comes from the heart.
So it is with this post that I bid you all farewell. I’ve accomplished more than I ever dreamed of. While I will no longer continue this journal, I will stop by from time to time in yours to try and give back half of the support I’ve received. To try and help all of you with your personal goals and dreams. To try and help you cross your own finish line.
I have crossed mine.