Hit it back

I've decided to do another marathon.  Big deal, right?  As runners we are always looking for new challenges.  At least we should be.  The last one beat the crap out of me.  Actually, the combination of wear and tear from work and the marathon beat the crap out of me.  I don't blame running.  I blame myself for not sticking to many of the things I know I need to do to stay injury free.  Strength training, proper mileage and nutrition are just some of the things I'm referring to.  I remember when I was young and I would get hurt, my grandfather would tell me to hit the thing that hurt me.  "Hit it back!", he would say.  Not hit a person, but maybe the table I hit my head on, or the bed I stubbed my toe on.  He was a tough, old West Point Colonel.  I think it was his way of telling me not to cry but to get mad and suck it up.  Well, I feel the last marathon got me and I want to hit it back.  I've gone back and forth for months as to whether I wanted to do another.  Was I satisfied with my performance?  Was I satisfied with my training?  Was the achievement enough to satiate any desire I had to do another?  Turns out that when I really start thinking about something and saying I'm not going to do it, it means I'm probably going to do it.  If it is in the brain, the legs are going to pay a price.  My legs hate my brain. 

I also have some very good friends who get me involved with this stuff.  Good friends.  Pure evil, but good friends.  They were doing it and ultimately, I could not come up with a good reason not to.  So, I'm in.

I also decided to do it through Team in Training.  Not really for the training, but to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.  It just felt right.  I did a half marathon a few year back with them.  I did it in honor of a great friend who had leukemia at the time.  She suffered for years with it.  Now, I will do it in her memory.  She lost her battle.  I have to admit that I was somewhat bitter about that.  Why could she not be saved?  She fought so hard.  Her husband, who is one of my best friends, was devastated.  He is a devout man, but was filled with sadness and some anger, even though he is sure he will see her again in a better place.  To see and hear  him struggling with everything is something I will never forget. 

I have another great friend who lost her husband years ago to the same thing.  She has raised her two kids by herself.  She seems to have an incredible network of friends and family, but still it is her and the kids.  She does many amazing things.  Incredible athlete, person, etc.  She is always positive, even when she probably isn't feeling it inside.  I saw something on her Facebook page the other day.  A friend was writing about her many accomplishments but said that far and away it was her ability as a mother that stood out.  What a great testament to a person.  I were to die tomorrow, I would want to be remembered as a good father above anything else. 

So, it is just a marathon.  But not really.  I wanted it to have some meaning other than just running.  Training and running with great and inspirational friends, raising funds for a good cause and getting to "hit it back", gives it the meaning I'm looking for.


This is my fundraising site, if anyone feels inclined to help out.  Thanks.
http://pages.teamintraining.org/epa/SteamTwn13/bobnourse