Monday, February 14, 2011

From here on out

Hey runners -
you may notice the calendar keeps going but most of the entries begin with TNT. TNT stands for Team in Training and is the next thing on my horizon. I'll be mentoring a Team in Training group for the Nashville marathon on April 30th and the San Diego marathon on June 6th. You are welcome to come and join us for a trial run and see what you think. There's a group that pretty much runs the whole time and a group that does a 7-minute run/1-minute walk version - they run every Saturday morning. There's also a walk group for both the full and half marathons. If you are interested in participating please call or email me or to learn more about TNT in general visit their website http://www.teamintraining.org/

In the late summer they'll train for the Mercedes (but we'll be doing that already) and for the Savannah marathon. Their deal is raising money to find a cure for blood cancers like leukemia. It's a national organization that has raised over a billion dollars for cancer research over the past 21 years. Once you meet your fundraising goal (for Nashville it's $1800 - San Diego is $2900) they pay your plane ticket, your hotel, pre-race dinner, and race entry fee - it's a great way to travel. It's a great way to help change lives. It changed mine :)

peace be with you -
Hilary

OFF WE GO!

WOW!!

I've learned that finishing a [half or full] marathon isn't just an athletic achievement. It's a state of mind; a state of mind that says anything is possible.

- John Hanc, running writer

WOW!
I'm not sure I could have wished for a more perfect day yesterday. Standing there with 7,000+ runners with that bright, clear early morning sun pouring over all of us. For a few minutes we were all all together - bouncing up and down to keep warm, laughing nervously, cheering randomly, smiling constantly - focused, excited, blessed - together.

Then we were running - laughing - waving at the cameras - listening to the crowds cheer us on. Feeling amazing. Only 30 seconds in. Only two minutes in. Four miles down, nine to go. Watching the brilliantly colored crowd spread ahead of us (and behind) in an endless, rhythmic  stream. And on and on we went.

So many runners running for others - those who couldn't run, those who were no longer with us, those too sick or too tiny - in memory of, in honor of, in place of. So many running beyond themselves. It is a gift from God that we can run. It is a gift to God when we run for a greater cause.

For a couple of hours we ran, together and "alone." And then suddenly I was heading down 20th street - the last leg - playing a ridiculous alphabet game with Felicia to keep my mind occupied. Then that last block of 20th before the turn - I couldn't even think of a word for the letter "U" let alone what order the letters came in. I just got quiet and willed my legs to run faster, to feel my lungs hurt, to know the end was just around the corner. Then I saw Susie Youngson, smiling, yelling, laughing and then it was over and I think my smile was bigger than my face. An amazing race. A perfect day.

I'm so proud you guys out there yesterday and I hope our runners who couldn't be with us due to sickness are all feeling much better.

Thank you Sole Saints! Can't wait until next year... anyone up for the full?

peace and love,
Hilary