This week began in tragedy as the Boston Marathon bombings created devastation in the city of Boston. Having attended graduate school in Boston, and having run the marathon twice with Tedy's Team (the sister program of Train to End Stroke, and whom I kicked of my 50 States Challenge with for the American Stroke Association), I felt this very personally, and was, as many were, overcome with emotion throughout the week. I remember running those 26.2 miles as being one of the most incredible experiences of my life... taking the buses out to Hopkinton and feeling an excitement that can only be felt at Boston, our team making our way to the starting line, and running 26.2 miles without one single stretch of road where there wasn't a crowd cheering us on. This crowd is made up of people with such inspiring enthusiasm, who cheer on anyone and everyone no matter if they know them or not, no matter if you are fast or slow, and when they see that a runner is down they will do everything they can to pick up your spirit and carry you through to the end. The Boston crowd is like no other, and are a huge part of what makes the marathon such an incredible experience.
As the events of the week unfolded and we began to learn about the victims, and then about more violence as the suspects were pursued, I knew that I needed to do something to honor all those affected in Boston, including Tedy's Team, who was running the marathon that Monday. There was nothing better I could have done than to run my first double marathon (back-to-back Saturday/Sunday marathons) to honor Boston and Tedy's Team only 5 days later.
I made my way to Carmel Indiana while obsessively checking my phone and airport televisions for news updates in Boston, worried about everyone I knew who was there while the city was locked down. Once I knew the city was safe again, I was able to transition my focus to my running and why these marathons were so important to me. Only a week before I was becoming incredibly nervous about running my first double, but this quickly fell to the background on April 15th, when I realized that I would get through it no matter what, because I was running not only for the American Stroke Association, but I was running to honor a city that I love and a team that I hold close to my heart, Tedy's Team. I would wear my Tedy's Team singlet that I last wore in Boston with ribbons for the city and my team.
I arrived in Carmel to meet an incredible group of runners (fellow Marathon Maniacs), who I came to know well over the 3-day trip, as many of us were running the same double. I found great comfort in being with runners as we all were processing what had happened earlier in the week.
On the morning of the marathon, I knew the city was safe again and that I could put my phone away for the 5 hours I would be running. I could focus on the causes I was running for, and there were more Boston colors than I have ever seen at a non-Boston marathon. Runners were wearing ribbons, bibs, and running shirts to honor all those affected. The crowd and fellow runners cheered for Boston when they saw a runner wearing something to support the city. It was an incredible show of support that was very special to be a part of. I shed tears before, during, and after the race for all those affected. I started and ended the marathon with thoughts of my cause and my team and all those affected, and it carried me through.
Given that it was my first double, I really didn't know the best way to pace myself and I think the emotion I carried motivated me to run a bit faster than I had planned, and the 26.2 miles seemed to go a little faster that day. I finished in 4:47:58 - slower than my most recent, but I had planned to slow down to conserve energy for the second marathon of the weekend. I finished ready to conquer day two of my marathon double.
Not long after we finished the Carmel Marathon, we said goodbye to some of our fellow Marathon Maniacs in Indiana and some of us made our way to Lansing MI to run the Lansing Marathon the following day.
The next morning I had no idea what to expect - my legs didn't feel too sore from the first day of the double, though I didn't know how they would respond to a second 26.2 miles only a day later. But I knew that I would get to the end keeping in mind everything that I was running for, and actually, the second day surprisingly felt a little better, and I was only 7-8 minutes slower than the first day. I know that what carried me through were thoughts of all those I'm running for who have been affected by heart disease and stroke all of those affected in Boston, and the fellow runners and crowd who were so supportive. The stories of the victims that had begun to be shared ran through my mind, and even though the legs and feet became a little bit sore, I knew that it was nothing compared to what they had gone through. I wanted to cross the finish lines for those who didn't get to cross it on Monday and take them to the finish with me. I wanted to take all those affected across the finish line with me. But, just like in Boston, it was them who helped me to the end.
Accomplishments this weekend: These seem of little importance given the bigger picture of Boston, but I will list them here:
*Earned 4 star Marathon Maniac status by completing a double
*Qualified to join the 50 states club
Onto State #10 - The Missoula Marathon!
