SOL25 Life Is A Marathon

 

This weekend, he'll be heading again, to Staten Island where he'll line up, again, with over 50,000 others for another opportunity to wear out another pair of sneakers. I think its his 23rd time running through the boroughs in NYC in the hot, cold, rain; but, it really doesn't matter if I'm one or two off, its a lot of miles. He's done at least as many in Boston and more half marathons than I suspect he can even remember.

I always read the results to make sure he makes it across the finish line, even though I am pretty sure the real challenge is in the months and months of training and the many detours and challenges on the way to the starting line. 

I'll never know the glow of crossing that finish line after pushing my body to the limit; yet, I do know the feeling of getting up early to get in a swim or heading into the sunset to get a mile in after dinner. Those are good feelings that provide me with a weird sort of energy that might be called self-esteem even if there are no cheering crowds.

I wonder if the real challenge for Ultra Athletes as well as us trying to stay alive is something that happens on a day to day basis when someone laces up their shoes for a really long/short run walk/after a really long/hard day or when someone gives up a glass of wine/piece of cake for a glass of water or a protein shake?  I wonder if the real challenge is walking gingerly on a sprain/after surgery while waiting for healing or waiting to run until after the dishes are done or the 12ths inning of your son's game or after that last meeting of the day?

I'll be watching to make sure he crosses the finish line and I will remember that the real challenge is getting out of bed and to the starting line. I'll celebrate his accomplishment(s) as I reflect on the massive undertaking. The NYC Marathon is really a metaphor for life, which is all about showing up and pushing through the hard parts in order to find that glow.

I'll remember that for all of us, Life is a Marathon.