Yesterday I completed the Columbus Marathon – my first 26.2 mile run. Even better I got to share the experience with my best friend, my wife Colleen, who was there with me for every step. It has been a long journey for us. Just over a 1 1/2 years ago, we decided to start running. We ran a mile. We then ran a 5K. We ran the 1/2 marathon last year with our friends Dana and Patty Randall – our first real race. Now, we can say that we ran a marathon… together!
Our journey has been about a lot more than one day of running 26.2 miles. It has been a journey from watching to doing. We spent day after day this year training. We encouraged each other to keep going on tough days and to get back out there running when we just didn’t feel like it. We started with one small goal to just start running, and now accomplished something that would have been completely unbelievable 18 months ago. Neither of us is a world class athlete, and that is beside the point. We took a little step down the path of fitness, and then another, and another, and another until finally we were so far down the path that we barely remember who we were before we started our adventure.
Finishing that race is not the end of the journey, but instead another memorable milestone. We set the goal to do it, worked hard, and with a little luck and a lot of dedication we accomplished our goal. I don’t know if we will run another marathon, although I am certain that we will keep on running. We are already talking about doing the 1/2 of the Flying Pig in the spring. Whatever the future holds, I am proud of each and every little step we have taken along the way.
Today I sit here typing this post,with sore legs, aching knees, throbbing feet and the amazing memory of the experience of running 26.2 miles that will live on in my mind forever. The sea of runners, the starting line, the cheering crowds, the bands, the volunteers, Katie & Alec who helped us along the way, our neighbor Stephanie who ran along with us, the high five I gave to the governor, German Village, downtown, the short north, running past Ohio Stadium, the long trek from mile 17 to 24, coming down the increasingly crowded streets as we approached the finish, seeing family and friends cheering us as we ran down the last hill toward the finish line, crossing that finish line with Colleen, and almost breaking down when they put that medal on my neck. The whole thing is a wonderful blur of joy.
Thanks to everyone who cheered us on, both in person and online. We have so many wonderful friends, a blessing for which I am thankful. Your encouragement along the way has meant so much to us. I hope our humble journey may inspire you to take the first step toward achieving “a something completely unbelievable” of your own.
