For most newbie runners, finishing a marathon is surreal. Pain and fatigue is overshadowed by a great feeling of accomplishment. The week after my marathon I was floating on air. I had actually traveled 26.2 miles by foot when it was almost impossible to complete 13 miles just a year ago. And what's really amazing is that my legs, feet and, most importantly, my heart did not fail me. My body held up to the task and I was amazed that I didn't fall apart into a gel-filled sack the week after the race.
So I have learned to appreciate what my body can do. The ability to walk, run, breathe, and feel.
This past weekend I ran a marathon relay with 4 other women. The relay was new experience for me since I've always felt I had to run a race on my own. My mental toughness was all I had to get me through to the finish line. But the relay turned out to be a great learning experience. I realized that I don't have to do this alone! I knew there would be someone waiting to hear the pain and torture that I suffered and would be able to relate to every single bit of it. Shin splints, knee pain, rolling hills, passing people on the highway - we've all experienced it.
The other great thing about a relay was a chance to cheer on the marathoners at that relay points. I saw the elite runners zoom by without stopping to drink the water at the water stations (how do they do that???). There were runners of all shapes and sizes, young and old, and they all appeared to be running a 5 min/mi on the course since we were standing still!! The finish line was quite an experience. Some people sprinted to the end, others walked. But to me, I appreciated what all these people had set out to do at 7:30 in the morning. They acheived a goal, overcoming difficulties and are living to talk about it.
So here's to all the people that finished a marathon today. You are my inspiration to keep running.
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