A little background: I've always been an athlete. Soccer, track, softball, basketball & cheerleading from age 7. I could run sprints for hours. But ask me to run our 2mile trial during preseason soccer and I thought I would die or pass out. Distance events were not something I wanted to try or even thought possible.
Seven years ago in early February, I headed up to the NCR trail for the first day of training with Team in Training to benefit The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society for my first "long run" of not only my training plan, but of my life. I couldn't believe I had signed up to train for a full marathon, 26.2miles. I'd never run a race longer than the 400m hurdles!
I was making this decision for several reasons. To be honest, the first reason was because I told some friends that I was thinking of running a marathon for charity and they laughed. Not in a, "that's crazy but cool" kind of way. They laughed AT me. "YOU?! RUN?! and a marathon?". So my thought was, "screw you! I'll show you!". The second and most important reason that I chose to run with TNT & support LLS was because I lost my cousin Sean to leukemia, when we were both kids. I was young and I don't remember much, which is probably best. But I do remember spending a day Ricky Game Farm, Sean, Colleen and I. I remember Sean being bald, but other than that, it was just a fun day with my cousins and Nian. I wanted to honor his memory and help raise funds, so hopefully no other children have to endure what he did.
That first day we met our coaches. My run coach was Anne, who was amazing. The walkers had Jack as their coach. We each spoke about why we wanted to run and why we decided to raise money and awareness for LLS. I was deeply touched by all the personal stories, everyone was touched in their own way by these diseases and we all wanted to do something that made us feel more at peace with our situations. I met some amazing people. Kisha was training for a half marathon in Alaska. She's now off in NJ continuing to further her education but we continue to keep in touch.
Jack Beach. Jack gets his very own paragraph, because he is one of the most amazing people I have ever met. Jack was the coach for the walkers (I did plenty of walking, but I was still in the "runners" group) but he reached out to each and every one of us. There are certain people in life that have a contagious, positive and uplifting personality. Jack is one of those people. I remember seeing him at mile 21 of the San Diego marathon. He had a huge smile on his face and I could only have been happier to see him if had some food for me (ANYTHING besides a GU or gel)! I was STARVING at that point! Throughout the years, I would see Jack at other running events. Always sporting the jersey of the cause he was supporting, and always the coach. I ran into Jack more recently and we got to talking, he'd moved on to running marathons and I was into triathlons. What a long way we had both come. He was still as positive & supportive as ever!
I have since run 6 half marathons (if I counted correctly), 2 full marathons, 2 sprint triathlons & countless shorter races. My first race is always memorable, but most memorable and special to my heart was the 2010 NYC marathon, that I ran in honor of my stepfather, Paul. The year I ran my first marathon, I crossed the finish line smiling saying, "I'll never do that again!", but I had the bug. Everyone talked about NYC and how it was the best race ever! So I casually mentioned it when home for the holidays. Paul thought it was great & said maybe they'd make the trip down to see me run. Well NYC is a lottery. I registered for the 2007 race. In the process Paul was diagnosed with lung cancer and started chemo. I was denied entry. Paul lost his battle in April of 2007. It was and still is hard to think back on those times. So I try to remember all the fun "beach ball" and Paulie stories, rather than the last few weeks. Around came registration for 2008, and I thought, "Ok, I have to do this because I told him I would.". Denied again. Registered in 2009, denied again. NYC is "three strikes and your in!" So 2010 was my year!! Again, I chose a charity I thought he would be proud of. I ran and raised money for the Pat Tillman Foundation. Pat's foundation focuses on football, military and community involvement all of which Paul was very involved in. Over $1400 and 26.2 miles later, I earned my 2nd marathon medal. I crossed the finish line touching the photo of us that had been over my heart the entire race.
Endurance events and training is more than just "getting in shape" or exercising. For me, it's a way of life. It's my therapy. It's my church. It's my time for reflection, decompression, stress relief. It's a way to meet new people who would also be labeled "crazy" by most of my friends & relatives. Yes, I do these things for myself. It keeps me happy and healthy (both mentally and physically). I compete only with myself. I go out to just be better than I was the day before. Whether that means faster, stronger or just less tired at the end. But there's not a swim, bike, run that I do, when these people do not cross my mind. At least once on these long workouts I will think, "Everything I've done lately, would Paul be proud? Am I proud?". I think, "Thank goodness for my amazing coaches & friends along the way, because without them I would have never taken those first steps." I don't find time for my workouts, I make time for them, because without them I wouldn't be me.
So when you read my posts and think, "damn! she's crazy!" just remember I do all these things to be a better me for the people that love and have loved me. THIS keeps me from going crazy!
Thank you for reading.......I hope this wasn't too long! :)
P.S. I couldn't write this & not put a quick, but heartfelt thank you to my husband. Over the past 5 years he has been my "athletic supporter". Writing notes & leaving them on the car, front door, my shoes, etc wishing me good luck. Telling me I'm crazy, but he's proud. Picking me up at the ER after my biking incident & learning to put a ponytail in my hair because I only had one working arm. Even when he questions or doesn't understand why I push, he's there (or maybe in bed still) supporting me, while I'm doing my thing. Now if only we could find a race or two that start around noon, he would be MUCH more excited to get up & cheer! ;)
