March 2015

March is always a month of remembrance for me as it is my parents’ birthdays. Dad would have been 108 and Mom 95. It’s still hard to believe that both are gone. I was so lucky to  have them as parents. My love of travel and adventure was destined because of them. We lived and traveled the world from the time I was born to the time I left home at 17 years old.

March was also the month that I wanted to become part of the 1%. That is 1% of the population that runs a marathon!

The marathon was the LA Marathon.

I had a lot of  support for this marathon. My family, SoleRunners’ Coach, Steve Merkel, all the SoleRunners,  SoleRunners’ Ray and Chris who ran with me for the first 18+ miles, the SoleRunners’ Aid Station organized by LeAnn, the SoleRunners who cheered me when I got there to our aid station, and Donna who flew down to get me to the finish line after the aid station.

As with every race, you never know what will happen. In fact, Steve gave us a meditation to read and think about. One of the lines that stood out for me was:

“Everything that I will go through during this race, will be precisely what I need to learn most.”

This one quote proved to be so true for me.

I knew I could run the 26.2 miles since I ran almost 22 miles on my last long run without incident. In fact, I felt great after that 22 mile run-no aches or pains.

And yes, the heat was a concern for me. It was in the mid 80s to high 80s. But I made sure I had family situated at certain points on the course with ice, water, coconut water, baggies of ice, and cold towels. I also had the aid station.

But the one lesson I need to learn, to figure out is why my IT Band decides to flare up during some of my races. This time the problem started at about mile 14-15. By the time I got to our aid station, I knew deep down this was really becoming a problem. By mile 20, I knew if I ran anymore, I wouldn’t be able to get to the finish line. So I walked as fast as I could to not be swept off the course.

My other lesson is I am truly fortunate for my friends and my running community both here and in Seattle. I received emails, texts, Facebook messages and posts, cards, good thoughts and support before and during the marathon. Their support was humbling. I was and still am so grateful to have had it. I’m so lucky to have this amazing community in my life.

And my last lesson was when you are hurting and don’t know if you can make it, Donna is the person to have with you. She made those last hard miles seem so easy.

Yes, I did get to the finish line and I did get my medal.

No, it wasn’t the time I wanted it to be, 7:47, but the most important thing for me to remember is I did cross the finish line.

And yes, I would run another one. In fact, on a lark without much hope, I put my name into the lottery for the Marine Corps Marathon for this October. And yes, I did get in.

What major adventure will try to accomplish?