The Marathon Experience

My first entry in awhile and I find navigating the technology more difficult than the marathon journey that I am attempting to write about! Perhaps it is simply a memory issue.....ah, save that for another page.

A few weeks post race and I still feel the glow of participating in and completing my first 'marathon experience'...and what a great experience it was...gruelling, exhilarating, painful and totally unique. We had fantastic weather on October 19th in TO and a 1700 eager and friendly marathon crowd. Different to be at the marathon start vs. the much larger half in that and other races I'd run. Nerves in the beginning on that sunny Sunday made me feel nauseous, but that disappeared as soon as this pure energy was transferred to my feet to propel me over the start line almost automatically. I felt prepared....thankful to the many friends and mentors who had begged me to rest in the few weeks prior despite my jittery energy. I like feeling prepared at the start of any new challenge....and that smugness lasted until about 2 mins into my run when a tap on my shoulder indicated I had unknowingly lost a water bottle! A few cautious steps later -after checking and re-checking my belt - found me bent over retrieving more belongings as my stash of food, meant to carry me through the entire 42 kms, spewed everywhere on Yonge St. with other marathoners dodging and weaving my rolling sport beans and precious fig newtons. OK, they were more likely dodging my backside as I scrambled to pick up what I could and regain some self composure as it seemed all 1700 participants marched unfazed passed. Thanking two very nice gentleman who helped this frazzled newbie retrieve what we could, I once again trotted on, perhaps a tad less confidently, hoping that the rest of the race would go slightly more as anticipated so many times in my daydreams. And the first 21 kms were just that - predictable, enjoyable, meaningful.....waving to my dad viewing from a bridge high above River st., I felt free, alive and certain that I would finish strong.

I once again felt prepared, most importantly mentally, for the time when my body parts would begin screaming at me to stop running. This did happen of course, at around 25 kms, and again more intensely at 28 and 29! The turn around at kilometre 30 was a huge mental boost, much needed at that point since the pain was evident on everyone's face around me. From the 'official' photos my pain was clearly evident as well! But what is a marathon after all without a little pain?

Cheering me from the sidelines at kilometre 41 were my sister, niece, nephew and friend....adding a much needed warmth to my last steps. Excitement overtook fatigue knowing the finish line was mere steps away. The crossing feeling was indescribable.....a culmination of years of myriad struggles, real and perceived. A deep sense of self satisfaction to be there, to get myself to that point...no big grin or whoop of victory, but an inner smile that lit to my core. And the immediate realization that I'll do it all over again.