Lightning and Thunder

Marathon morning...part one

Running in the rain. This picture made me laugh.

We woke up to lightning and thunder as the sky opened up with heavy rain. I looked out the window wondering if the marathon start time would be delayed or canceled.

I’ve learned I can’t control the weather—why waste my brain energy on that—focus on getting ready, moving my body, and the words I would say during the race. The mantras that I would need to keep going.

My back was still talking to me but I was hopeful I would be okay to run. I will just take one stride at a time and see what I can do. My goals changed from pace, time, and another Boston Qualifier (BQ) to show up, have fun in the rain, and cross the finish line.

Felicia and I made our way to the start area walking through the dry hallways of the hotel. Runners were being told to hang out in the ballroom until further notice. The hallways were now busy with other runners getting ready and using the bathrooms one final time.

As we continued walking we saw lightning through the corridor windows and the thunder boomed, like bowling pins being knocked over. We looked at each other concerned.

My mind swirled with thoughts, the marathon might be canceled now, oh no! Or maybe we won’t start til 9 or even 10 o’clock!

We all gathered in the ballroom wondering if we would be running today. An announcement was made with the hopes that we would still start at 8 am as long as there wasn’t another lightning strike.

I prayed to myself hoping we would be able to toe the line and have a safe race but if not we would enjoy another day at The Gettysburg Museum. We chatted with a few other runners while we waited for further instructions.

At 7:55 am we got the green light and made our way outside to the cloudy, grey sky. We would toe the line and start the race at 8 am…in five minutes! I hadn’t gone through my normal warm-up drills or strides but I was calm. The rain had even let up for a bit.

This race wouldn’t be about a BQ time or personal record. This race would be evidence for myself and my body that even when things go sideways, and setbacks occur, I can still choose to lace up and run. I can still do what I love for the pure joy of it with no expectations other than to have fun and finish…to show up.

I looked up at the crowd of runners ahead of me as their heads started to bob—The North-South Marathon had begun!

Here we go!

I kept a steady pace and weaved around runners to get a better position on the road. I didn’t feel too bad considering the lack of preparation and back stiffness. The rain started up again and puddles were hard to avoid. I will take one mile at a time and enjoy running in the rain.

The race was beautiful with pastures, open fields, and farms on either side of me. Rolling hills were a big part of the course and by mile eleven I was feeling tingles in my right knee and left hip discomfort, and I felt a small rock in my right sneaker. (how did that get there?)

But you know what, my back felt great! Pain is so weird.

I worked hard to not pay attention to the rock or the discomfort. I repeated my mantras, focused on the runners around me, and managed to keep a decent pace as I approached mile thirteen.

I saw my children and mom on the corner. My mom handed me a full hydration flask and I handed her my empty one. It was great to see them cheering me on in the rain and I smiled— a surge of energy renewed me as I headed back out to repeat the loop I just ran but this time alone.

The runners that were surrounding me all headed into the finish. Their race was over— the half marathon and I realized the next 13.1 miles might be run in solitude. I shook out my arms and focused on my thoughts.

I must coach myself this next half of the race and stay kind! I will need to dig deep.

…Thank you for reading! Stay tuned for part two of marathon morning and the finish.

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                  Puddles

Small streams form across
the country roads—sneakers beat
in time with the rain

Splash, thump my feet hit 
the ground something to focus 
my mind on— 
to forget the pain.  

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Thank you for being here!