No, not that Marathon Monday. But the Monday after you’ve run a marathon. Or, in my case, kept your body moving for 105 laps of the track supporting Relay for Life and the American Cancer Society. It wasn’t easy. The difference with this compared to other races I’ve done was that I was doing it with and for others. That helps, but also adds an extra challenge. When you’re the mommy too and kids have to go potty, there are lots of breaks. Breaks aren’t fun. They mess with you. High noon sun and 80 degree heat are also sure to slow you down. I don’t recommend running over 26 miles not as trained as you’d want to be for it either. There is a reason you train for 16 weeks or more to run a marathon.
But – I did it. There were a ton of times that I wanted to just stop or tag someone else in. We talked about that and how it wasn’t an option (this year!). To keep going, I had to lean of my team for help. When they’d ask “What do you need?” I had to be clear and provide answers so they knew how I was feeling. “Are you hurt?” I had to be completely honest so they knew no, I wasn’t so hurt that I couldn’t continue, but definitely wasn’t 100%. And when I just stopped talking, put my head down and went, they just came along for the ride. Some people (like that kid racing me to the finish) didn’t even know they’d joined the Runner Chick team! Each of those people played a role in helping me finish this challenge for Relay for Life. This Chick was born because of how cancer has touched our lives, and has kept running because I think I can play a small part in this fight.
I’m most proud of all the “non-runners” who took a chance and joined in. From my husband who walks tons and tons at work (literally his step count is double mine in a day when I have a long run!) but who hasn’t run in years, to my two kids, running barefoot and sweaty, my friends who are usually walkers and then others from the gym who think 400 meters is distance (sorry Crossfit that’s a sprint!). Anyone can keep moving forward. You find a way and just do it.
My feet might be sore and hips tight this marathon Monday – but just remember to keep moving forward – if I could do it then you can too.
