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| A reminder of what is important |
Each year I write up a full report of my marathon adventure. I write it all down mostly for myself so that
I can remember all that took place on a whirlwind day but also to inspire other
to create their own “marathon memories” either by running a 5K, marathon or
just doing something they never thought possible.
My mantra is “Forward is a pace” both in
running and in life. It gets me through my toughest of times and roughest of
runs. I preached it to my pace group all summer in order to get them though and
learn to have faith in themselves. What I didn’t realize was that I was the one that
needed to hear it, learn it and have faith the most.
Marathon
morning dawned early, cool and crisp. A perfect day for a run. I was more
nervous for this marathon than any other in the past, second guessing myself into a panic almost
daily for the 4 days prior to Sunday.
This morning would be no different. I talked my husband’s ear off about
all that could go wrong as he drove me downtown. He just listened and finally
said, “really? What is the worst thing that can happen? You know what you are
doing. Just do it” And with that I got out of the car.
I met up
with friends and we walked to the Congress Hotel to meet other runners from our
group and hang out until it was time to start. We all stretched and nervously
chatted as we waited for the time to head to our corrals. One of my friends
chose to lead a small group in the most beautiful and moving prayer before we
headed out. It was the perfect reminder of what was truly important that day.
We bundled
up and I donned my signature tutu. Tutu spirit was going to carry me though this distance today. We were
all in different start corrals so it was time
to part ways. My friend and I headed to our corral and at the entrance met Fr.
Rob S. Fr. Rob and I have run several races together but I did not think I
would actually meet up with him in a sea of 45,000 runners…but there he was
waiting for a friend. We talked a bit and I introduced him to my friend asking
him to keep us both in prayer as he ran and he agreed.
At 8:00am
the gun sounded and we were off….my friend was running her first marathon and I
was running #4. I agreed to stay with her and get her to the finish. She was so unsure and scared but I reassured her she could do this. She was ready. So off we
went….Forward was our pace to the finish line.
At the Mile
1 under the Michigan Ave bridge, I chose to take off my ‘toss’ coat. This would
prove to be a costly mistake. It was dark and as I moved towards the sidewalk
to throw away my coat, I was cut off by another runner who shoved me as she
passed. I was paying attention to her and not the street thus tripped into a
pothole and rolled my ankle falling down on both knees. I jumped up and got
right back to moving forward. My friend was stunned and wanted me to stop at
the nearest med tent as my knee was bleeding pretty badly….NO WAY! Been there and done that! I told her emphatically NO! ….that I would
just shake it off and had to keep going. Nothing was stopping me today…slowing
me down? Maybe, but not stopping me ...so
on we went. Forward.
At mile 2
she said, “We are at mile 2 already? Did I miss mile one?” as she checked her
watch. “Yup, “ I answered, “We are slow
but not that slow!” We laughed and kept moving forward.
At mile 4, I
heard someone yell, “Mrs Nader!!!” and there was one of my Girls on the Run with
her mom and sister. I took a minute to give them all a quick hug and we were
off again…Forward.
We ran
through the Lincoln Park Zoo and then headed further north as I narrated the
run for my friend coaching her along as we ran.
Lake Shore Drive looks so beautiful from a runner’s perspective with
people honking as they drive by!
At mile 7
the course turns off the lake and heads into Boy’s Town. I was reading signs
when I heard my maiden name being yelled over and over as I turned to see
someone chasing me. A woman had jumped out of the crowd to come hug me and say
hi. It was a friend that I had not seen since college. She told me that she had been watching for me
all morning and wanted to wish me luck. I was moved to tears as we hugged and
she disappeared into the crowd again as I kept moving forward.
Running
through Wrigleyville and Lincoln Park is always a thrill as the crowds are
amazing. I wear my name on my shirt so people call me by name as I run which is
so motivating. It really kept me going during the tough times. But soon I
realized that my friend had fallen back and gotten lost. I tried to wait and
look for her but could not see her so I kept moving forward thinking she would
catch up with me.
At mile 12 I
heard Fr Rob behind me again saying hi. He had passed me once before so I
thought he was ahead of me. Not so. So
we ran together for a bit but soon he was well in front of me and I lost sight
of him.
As I crossed
the bridge to head toward Greektown, I heard my name again. It was another
family from school! We had a quick hug
and I was off again. Spotting family and friends during the marathon is no easy
task. You not only have to know WHERE there are but also what SIDE of the
street they are on. So chance encounters like this are magical and meant to be.
I was making
good time and feeling really great at the half way point when I saw the
cheering section from my running group. That was awesome! They are like family to me so knowing that
they were there to support me and the other runners from our group was great!
Mile 14 is
the Charity Mile so I found the Girls on the Run cheer sections and high-fived
my friends, did a few courtesies and kept moving forward only to hear my name
again from a familiar voice. Suddenly I was 10 years old again hearing my mom
call my name. There she was with my dad and a big pink sign. Again a quick hug and kiss before I was off
and running forward again.
The cooler
weather and a water belt allowed my to skip every other water stop and drink
when I felt the urge rather than every mile. I think that this helped me move
faster this time and run better. No walking other than water stops this time.
Always forward.
Soon I had a
companion again who said, “No, I am really not stalking you!” It was Fr. Rob again.
How he managed to find me again was amazing. We ran together again for a bit
and soon he was well ahead of me. I
would not see him again even at the finish.
Mile 17
brought on Little Italy. I love this part of town as it holds many good
memories for me…mostly food memories…but good memories none the less! I came upon an older (late 60’s) gentleman in
a wheelchair. Not a fancy racing chair but a common, every day wheelchair. His helmet bore a sign
that read “Do not tap” …I wondered how many people had, in fact, tapped his
head as they ran by and how that would get old! I began to run next to him as
he said, “Did the race start yet? Am I winning?” He was clearing joking and I
laughed with him as we talked a bit more. He was a Rabbi on a mission to raise
money for his synagogue. I wondered how long it would take him to finish the
whole distance. He finally said, “Go
now! You go with my blessing! Keep
moving and don’t stop til you get to the finish.” And away I went. Forward.
A few young
guys passed me and made a comment about my tutu. We chucked a bit and as they
sped past me I noticed the one 20something had “Jesus Saves” and a cross
written in marker on his shirt. The other young man had Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”
Written on his bare back. Underneath that was written Type 1 Diabetic.
Shortly
thereafter I saw our fearless Running group leader along with his wife. They
were a sight for sore eyes. What fabulous cheerleaders they are and right where
I needed them. Another tight embrace and
I was off again moving forward.
Entering
Pilsen behind a group of runners from Mexico was amazing. The roar of the crowd
was deafening! There were also folks
handing out slices of oranges. I took one and devoured it. So yummy!
I kept
running though the lonely part of town along Cermack. The crowds are thin but the promise of
Chinatown on the other side kept me moving forward.
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| Running on faith and tutu spirit at this point. |
Chinatown is
one of my favorite parts of the Marathon. The tall gates upon entering and the
crowds there are fabulous. But the best part is that I know that the finish is
only 4.5 miles away. What made Chinatown
even better this year was another chance encounter. My best friend’s sister
calling my name! My friend wanted to
come down to cheer but due to her heath, could not. Seeing her sister was just what I
needed at that point. I could feel my friend right there beside me guiding me
along forward to the finish. Forward.
I crossed
the bridge at 33rd street with only a few more miles to go. And it was there I spotted my running group
cheer team again…right when I needed them. I asked who had passed them already
and told them I was feeling really tired but they promised me I was less than
5K from the finish…now I needed my last push forward. I was making silent deals
with God and the devil at this point…praying and cursing at the same time.
As I left my
friends and began up Michigan Avenue towards the finish, the two young men
passed again. This was our 4th encounter of the day. I jokingly
said, “Ok really….why can’t you two stay ahead of me?” The shirtless one turned
to me with a smile and said, “I am a severe diabetic. I have to stop every 2
miles and check my blood sugar.” It was then that I noticed the insulin pump on
his hip as well as the test kit he had been carrying. No water belt or anything
like that…just his test kit in his hand for 26.2 miles. I had taken the opportunity
to get out my sport beans and was chomping on one as we ran and talked. I offered
some to both and the shirt wearer took several but shirtless said no…he did not
want to stop again to test with only a few miles left. With that they both said, “God Bless you” and
then they took off…faster than ever towards the finish…all of us headed
forward.
Before I
knew it I saw the Mile 25 sign and felt so great. Then I ran past the 800
Meters sign knowing the most challenging part was still to come….Mount Roosevelt! It never seems like much of a hill until you
are in the homestretch on the marathon then it seems insurmountable. In the
past I have never has ‘gas in the tank’ enough to run this hill but this year…it
was not going to get the best of me so I leaned back and headed up. Forward and
uphill.
I got to the
top and could see the final corner. As I rounded the corner there it was…the
finish line! I was almost there! Forward
…and I was sprinting with the last of what I had left. I felt great…tired but great.
I crossed the finish line with a smile on my face and angels on my shoulders.
This was my
best run to date and the clock proved it. I had a new personal best! My
first marathon was all about the finish. The goal was to get across the finish
line. The second time was about the journey. Crossing the finish line was icing
on the cake. The third time it was all about determination. Always
moving forward despite the obstacles. This time it was about faith.
Having faith in God, others and myself.
During this
adventure I learned so many things about myself. Every single run taught
me a lesson. Those lessons got me to the finish. I learned that I am a
better, stronger, smarter runner/person than I was a year ago. I learned that
hard work pays off. I learned that tutu spirit is a real and powerful force. I learned that I
need to have as much faith in myself as I do in others. I learned that God reveals himself in so many
ways…we just have to open our eyes. I
learned that everyone needs inspiration. Some days you inspire and some days
you need to be inspired. I learned once again that if you simply put one foot
in front of the other…you move forward. Forward IS a Pace. I realized that I
did something that many people can’t do, won’t ever start....I completed a
marathon...not once, not twice, not three but FOUR times!!
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Marathon finish number 4!
And a Personal Best to boot!
Faith, Forward and Tutu Spirit! |
Thank you to
all of you for your months of encouragement, generous donations, faith and abundant
prayers. I am forever changed.....…..
A mom
A teacher
A 4 TIME
marathon FINISHER!
Peace.
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