Bold Moves

My ‘running season’ began on April 13th with the Rock the Parkway half-marathon.  It was a great weekend and I ran the race well, surpassing my expectations and setting a new PR, besting my previous PR by 6 minutes!  It was an awesome way to begin my race schedule, which includes several half-marathons leading up to the KC Marathon, 26.2 miles in October.  I was so excited to share my news with my sis-in-law, Ginny, who would be running Boston that Monday.  “Good mojo for you,” I told her.

We have an ongoing joke between us.  Ginny optimistically believes that someday soon we’ll run Boston together.  That would be a dream come true for me but I am a realistic runner and cutting an hour off my marathon time is a lot to hope for.  Nonetheless, she again emphasized that cutting 6 min off my half-marathon time shows that I will be Boston bound sooner than I think.  Over the weekend she arrived in Boston and sent us her bib number so we could track her in the race.

Monday was a day of positive energy.  I was still riding the high from my weekend race and I was excited for Ginny, as well as one of my co-workers, Gary, who would be running Boston. I had both their bib numbers loaded on the race tracker map and was all set.  Gary had a great race and so did Ginny, both re-qualifying for next year’s race.  Minutes after Ginny’s “little tracker icon” showed she had finished, we received an odd text message from her daughter….”She’s ok but shaken up.”  What?!  What does that mean?  We had not heard yet about the explosions.  I was on a teleconference and started getting frantic text messages from relatives trying to figure out what happened to Ginny.  My Hubby texted me about the two bombs.  My heart fell.  Even though the text said she was ok, does that mean ok and not seriously injured or ok with minor injuries?  It took about 30 minutes before Hubby heard that she was perfectly fine but emotionally shocked and scared.  Later in the work day I learned the rest of the details that we now all know too well.

As a runner, I felt immediate anger after relief left me, thankful that both Ginny and Gary were ok.  How dare someone do something so violent and cowardly. How dare they attack a marathon of all things, the most non-violent sport possible.  I monitored the progress of the investigation with millions of others throughout the week, still feeling more anger than any other emotion.

My second half-marathon was coming up on the 20th.  It suddenly had more meaning; it represented the survivors and victims of Boston. It represented our freedom and the fact that it continues to be under attack.  I received an email from the Garmin Oz race organizers, assuring me that my safety as a participant is their utmost priority.  I started to store my anger, for later use on race day. There’s really no sure way to make a race “safe.”  The very nature of the sport is wide open with spectators all along the route; one of the things I love about endurance races. Never for a second did I consider not running.

The second terrorist/bomber was apprehended before the race.  Several thousand runners stepped up to the Start line, filled with emotion.  We had a moment of silence and then they played the National Anthem, with a huge flag hanging from a crane, gently swaying in the breeze.  A thunderous cheer rose up as the Anthem concluded and you could feel the energy and excitement.  Yes, we all were running for Boston, but now with a sense of victory.

It was a good race but a tough one.  This is the first of two back-to-back half-marathon races that I have planned, part of my training strategy to improve my 26.2 mile performance.  The first 9 miles were good, I felt good and was running well.  As I passed the mile 10 marker my legs began to hurt.  First, my right hamstring and then both calves.  No cramping, just an emanating pain.  Clearly, I was feeling the effects of my last race. I was determined to stay on pace because I was ahead of my Rock the Parkway PR!  Rather than speed up, which is normally the plan for my last 3 miles, I struggled to hold pace.  As I approached the 12 mile marker, there was a sign with the Oz Tin Man and a heart.  Yes, it would take heart to get to the finish! About a half mile to the finish there was another sign, “straight ahead to the Emerald City!”  I dug for some type of boost but dead legs were not cooperating.  I managed to hold on for a new PR anyway, by 1 min, 21 sec!  Throughout the course, people had chalked on the road, “Run for Boston!” and “Remember Boston” and “Boston, Boston, Boston!”  All of that fueled me for those last 3 painful miles.

I know that my run doesn’t directly benefit Boston, but in some way it has helped me to move forward and renew my stand — I will not live in fear.  I will not let terrorists or any other evil alter how I live my life.

I remain proud to be American; proud to be a Veteran; proud to be a Runner!  Never quit – always move forward!