Today was a 10 mile run - my last long run before the Boston Marathon. I met Megan, and we had run about 3 miles when we saw Bill, wearing his Boston Marathon jacket, the same one I used to see him come into the health club wearing about 5 years ago when I got the itch to run a marathon, and dare to dream about earning the right to wear that jacket. Bill ran with us a couple of miles, before he spun off to run back home, about 2 miles north of the trail.
I'm getting down to the last week before running Boston. I'm excited about the event, but I'm also feel very grateful for the journey. I have gotten a lot of help from many people I have run with - both those that have pulled me along in their wake, to run faster, and those who have taught me the real meaning of endurance, as they move along at their own pace, in spite of challenges and setbacks.
I have been lucky enough to personnally know about 8-10 people who have run the Boston Marathon. I have either run, biked or trained with them in some way:
- Bill
- Chris
- Megan
- Nicole (in the picture above with me at the 2005 Chicago Marathon)
- Helen
- MJ
- Pam
- Sue
- Donna
Oh, yeah, another Boston Qualifier I have run with - Dick Beardsley - 2nd place to Alberto Salazar in the 1982 Boston Marathon, by about 2 seconds. The other picture is me with Dick, the keynote speaker at the Arthritis Foundation's Pre-Marathon Pasta Dinner - with his opening act - the Lovely Laura Nolan, famous for her Energizer Commercial for the Chicago Marathon.
I once heard a storyteller say that we make great strides when we stand on the shoulders of those that came before us. I have to thank them for letting me stand on their shoulders (or step on their heels a few times). They gave me example of dedication and perserverance.
Beyond the times we have spent running/biking/or swimming, what they showed me is an appreciation of this accomplishment and the Boston experience.
I'm proud to join this "...few, we happy few, we band of brothers (and sisters)".
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