So you’re telling me there’s a chance
5 days till the big day, and I’m not feeling nervous for this race. Should I be? Maybe it’s because I’ve got so much going on in my life that running seems like a much-needed break from reality. Or maybe it’s because I’m too naive/ignorant/arrogant to really grasp how hard this is going to be. I’m certainly confident and prepared, but I also know that there are 1,000 things that could go wrong over the course of the 4 hours that commence in Hopkinton and end on Boylston Street.
But maybe - just maybe - I shouldn’t be nervous at all. Perspective tells me that the outcome of the actual marathon is only a small piece of the story. It’s a story about friendships and teamwork; volunteers and fundraising. A story about the cold and the ice; the wind and the snow. It’s a story about perseverance. Above all, for me and many of my teammates, it’s a story about remembrance. These are the things that make the DFMC so special. What I couldn’t quite grasp last year - but what I now can appreciate - is that the actual marathon is just a small inflection point in a monumental life experience.
Last year, a friend shared a quote with me about failure (and honor) when I learned that my 2010 marathon hopes were finished. This year, a different friend shared a different quote. I’m glad to have literate friends, because the right quote at the right time can be quite touching.
Richard Bach - Jonathan Livingston Seagull
I’ve run over 1,000 miles and have raised over $10,000 to get here, and I plan on enjoying every second of Marathon Monday. Thanks for coming along for the ride.
