The Marathon-
It’s 26.2 miles of unknown. No matter how many marathons you’ve done, there is no way of knowing what will happen during your race miles. A pebble inside your shoe at mile 5 or another runner cuts you off, tripping you… and then, there’s the WALL. It’s out there looming for most runners. People run the marathon for all kinds of reasons— for charity, because it has been burning in their soul, to beat their last race time. I want to do another race, and just need to set aside the time to train, but I feel like my brain surgery and recovery took up so much time, now that I’m not putting all my energy into healing, I’m doing all those other things I couldn’t do while healing.
I still enjoy those long runs, even if I’m not logging 20 miles on Saturday. The long runs vary and for the most part have been done with my running buddy. For all the years I’ve known him he has vehemently opposed the test of 26.2 miles. Yet, on March 17, I found myself cheering him on for his first marathon.
It’s 26.2 miles of unknown. No matter how many marathons you’ve done, there is no way of knowing what will happen during your race miles. A pebble inside your shoe at mile 5 or another runner cuts you off, tripping you… and then, there’s the WALL. It’s out there looming for most runners. People run the marathon for all kinds of reasons— for charity, because it has been burning in their soul, to beat their last race time. I want to do another race, and just need to set aside the time to train, but I feel like my brain surgery and recovery took up so much time, now that I’m not putting all my energy into healing, I’m doing all those other things I couldn’t do while healing.
I still enjoy those long runs, even if I’m not logging 20 miles on Saturday. The long runs vary and for the most part have been done with my running buddy. For all the years I’ve known him he has vehemently opposed the test of 26.2 miles. Yet, on March 17, I found myself cheering him on for his first marathon.
A friend at work strong armed him into signing up and since
we’ve logged so many miles together had so much smack talk and has been like a
brother, I decided to organize a relay team to pass him of like a baton between
the miles. I knew ego would forbid him from dropping out, but a relay team that
essentially has him on a leash would be an even bigger barrier and keep him
company through the solitude of the miles and help push him through the wall
when his body gets cold and achy.
We started the relay around mile 9 and it continued until
our last relay team sent him through the shoots and to his finish. It’s too
soon to goad him into another race, and it’s too soon for me to contemplate a
race, but the race is out there on the horizon… My next race just might be side
by side with a friend rather than in the solitude.
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