Chicago, October 10, 2009
My emotions run high as I finally begin to take it all in. 26.2 miles, a distance I never dreamed I would run. But my story is only a small particle of the many stories connected with the marathon phenomenon. Yet . . . I am a part, and I happily feel connected. I now know I’ll take something away tomorrow from this experience that I will treasure for the rest of my life. And, all of us involved in this welcome display of the human spirit will leave something good here too.
Our inspiration builds as people’s stories unfold. In my race packet I read of an 83 year old woman running tomorrow named Iris Vinegar, from Raleigh, NC. What makes Iris’s story so amazing is that she had heart surgery and her doctors just gave her the okay to run in February 09. She signed up immediately. This is her 10th Chicago Marathon and it will be a special one, not only for her, but for the lives she’ll touch. So many personal stories of perseverance unfold here tomorrow in Chicago. Race time records and personal records will be broken here tomorrow!
October 11, 2009 is the 32nd Chicago Marathon and brings 45,000 participants from 120countries and all 50 states. Over $10 Million will be donated to charity. It’s a unique event, one of the greatest in the world, and I’m just now realizing what a privilege it is to be here. I look forward to seeing the encouraging and cheering spectators! I read in my packet where I’ll hear the roar of more than 1.5 million of them along the 26.2 mile route.
My marathon journey has been a discovery for myself and my new friends, whom are dear to me now because of the hours of training together. Many times we arose at 4:00AM or 4:30AM and had run for an hour or more before the sun even got up. Tomorrow, we use what we built in ourselves over the last four months. The shared excitement flows out in e-mails, nervous laughs, excited eye contact, and smiles. It’s a shared experience and I’m expecting tomorrow to be one of the best days of my life when I cross the finish line.
- Until Tomorrow -
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This is great Mike, I'm just now reading it and it makes me excited for St. Jude! You too, right??????
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