Marathons

I am going to post something a bit controversial here.  Many of you are thinking…and what’s new with that?  I am always living on the edge.  J  I have never been one to be politically correct.  I have NO filter (so Bill says).

I was running the other day.  It was a beautiful day in Arizona (yes…a bit hot--almost 90!--for this time of the year, but the sun WAS shining- what’s bad about that in March?).  I was wearing my new pair of Vibrams that Ted talked me into buying and it was wonderful to be out there running again.  It felt fabulous!  I recently started running again because a friend challenged me (without knowing it).  There is one thing for sure, don’t challenge Laura Holgate.  Anyway, I haven’t run much in the past several years for a few reasons.  First, time just has not allowed me the luxury.  I stopped running when I had Nicolas.  Things have been just a tiny bit busy for me over the past 14 years.  I was busy with Nicolas in and out of the hospital, having my third child when Nicolas was not yet walking, Maggie being diagnosed with Asperger’s, to name a few distractions.  Secondly, my aging body just didn’t like it when I ran.  My body would scream “why are you doing this to me?”  I used to run 6-13 miles/day, I did Marathons, I did triathlons, I swam in the La Jolla cove, I did the Alcatraz triathlon when it wasn’t as well known as it is today (that was back in 1989!).  SO, I was quite active.  Running was a passion of mine.  I loved how I felt when I ran.  THEN came kids.  I didn’t need to run a marathon to get in shape.  I was in the best shape I have ever been in when Nicolas and Lexi were little.  I had a 5 year old, a 3 year old (who didn’t walk) and a baby!  I had two kids on either hip. One who was a toddler!  And I was ALWAYS on the go.  Honestly, I probably did 2 marathons per day…without getting a medal.  Which brings me to my point…and this is where it might strike a nerve…

I don’t understand what it is about running a Marathon like the New York or Boston or PF Chang that deserves accolades.  Ok…it’s great that you ran it….but does running the marathon deserve praise and adoration?  Or comments like “Wow, good for you”, “I am so impressed”, “I don’t know how you did that!”, or “you are such an inspiration to me”.  I have a hard time comparing running the PF Chang Marathon as an inspiration to someone who gets up in the morning, struggles to get their child out of bed and get them on a bus to go to school (all the while the child is screaming, kicking, and quite possibly hitting) and yet still has the energy to advocate and fight fights that are more difficult than any marathon I have ever done.  When I was running the other day I was struck with the fact that I am SO lucky to be running- it is a gift to be outdoors soaring along on my feet.  I am lucky to have the legs to run.  I was struck with the fact that I have friends who have children who will NEVER run.  I was thinking that my very good friend, Melissa, is struggling right now just to raise her right arm above her head.  Thinking of those early days of running my “mommie marathons” every day make me wonder how the heck I did it.  I am so impressed that I made it through those tough days (and I am still doing it!).  I look around at my friends with children who have challenges and think, wow….good for you!  Good for you that you fight for their rights, that you are doing your best to give your special needs children what they need and you don’t give up.  My friend, Jill, fights for her child who has Duchene’s muscular dystrophy…she frequently flies to Washington to bring awareness to congress and get her child the medical support he needs.  That is quite the marathon!  Having a child with autism/asperger’s is more exhausting than you can imagine.  Yet my friends—Ted, Marci, Julie, and Melissa—run that marathon everyday of their lives.  They humbly go about running their Marathons…they never ask for people to cheer them on!   Nobody is playing music while they run that marathon, nobody is standing there screaming “good job!”  “good for you”.  But, they do it because they know they have to and they want to do it for their children.  God is cheering them on!  And, that is good enough for them.

Running the PF Chang marathon or any other marathon is a self-imposed and chosen activity.  Running a marathon like that is most certainly not for anyone else but for the person who runs it- it is the ultimate in selfishness.  I KNOW, because I did them—it was for me…and me alone!  When I did those Marathons and triathlons I loved it.  I loved training for them.  I did them because I COULD!  I was so lucky to be able to run.  I will never forget my grandmother (who was in her 80’s) asking me….”so, WHY are you doing this Alcatraz Triathlon?”…my reply was “because I can”.  So, the next time you go out and run…think of your blessings.  Know you are running because you can.  Maggie is out there in the wilderness trying to find her Marathon legs.  She needs this training so she is prepared for her life of MANY Marathons.  I know God is cheering her on…..please join Him!

Amen and Thanks be to God!