What Running Means To Me.
[Shifting back to beckOn from Facebook Notes now that the walkabout is over.]
The Boston Marathon is sacred to marathoners. They have a charity component that we could easily surpass so I could run Boston, but I'll fundraise and run a different race. I will only run Boston if I qualify with a fast enough time. That is non-negotiable for me. It may mean I never run it, but I will always strive to qualify.
I wasn't always a runner. Heck, 10 years ago I could barely make it around a local park near our house. That loop is 2.8 miles, kids. Yeah, it was that bad. And then sometime in late 2004, Marc had the brilliant idea to get more active. So around the loop I went. A lot. This led to injuries, frustrations, success, half-marathons, and finally marathons.
Running also led to a new way to see places, improved self-confidence, better health and friendships. These are people who used to be 'runners whom I was friendly with' to 'friends whom I also happen to run with'. On these runs, sometimes you have those discussions that are of the "what happens on the run, stays on the run" type. Those runs are generally where the transition from "running buddy" to "friend" takes place.
It can be a run where you are doing 800m repeats feeling like you're going to vomit. But those same repeats are the only thing that keeps you from crying about something going on in your life... you get to take out your anger on the track. Or sharing really fabulous news about something in your life that you are not ready to make public yet. Or just some idea that you have that you need a second opinion on. You get the idea.
BTW the same could be said about Crossfit for me in terms of what I have gained, but I digress.
While we were on our "Australian Walkabout", I used running to check out places that were better seen on foot than by car. Kangaroos, the Australian Formula 1 track, beaches, and of course, running over the Harbour Bridge and by the Sydney Opera House.
Yesterday something horrible happened to the world, and, in essence, to the running community. I feel sorrow and pain for the families who had their lives changed forever by the acts of cowardice. I hope these people can find peace and a path to move forward.
About marathoners....
Marathoners are resilient people who tend not to give up. They go for 26.2 miles in one race for heaven's sake! And they log so many more miles in training for their race. Same with the people that support them. It's rare that a marathoner can cross the finish line without help along the way.
Most people who know me know that I am pretty much anti-New England, except for 3 things - my friends from the area, Maine lobster and the Boston Marathon.
The coward(s) who did their deeds yesterday struck the wrong group of people. I have no doubt that the people of Boston will be rebound to be even better than they were before. I certainly know that runners of all stripes will not be intimidated to run in races, or run at all.
I had minor surgery recently to fix a broken bone. I was given the ok to run at a moderate pace. I wasn't sure when I was going to get out there for my 1st real run. Yesterday changed that.
I ran this afternoon with a close friend, enjoyed the scenery at that same park where I started running all those years ago and then came home to Marc with a huge grin on my face.
I ran for those who either will never run again or will have a delayed return to running. I also ran for myself. That's what running means to me.