A few weeks ago, I completed the half marathon I had been training for, and I think I am finally ready to write about it. I have hesitated because I am not sure I can really capture what it meant to me..but I'll try.
The evening before the race, Team in Training hosted a pasta party for the 5000 TNT participants. What an inspiring evening. It started with all the participants walking down a huge staircase through the very loud cheering of the trainers, coaches, captains, managers and support staff of TNT. I think there were 2000 of them. I could not help but get chills and be so proud to be a part of something like that. While eating dinner, I was able to read about honorees across the country, and every story was another reminder of why I was there. I was a bit apprehensive when I started fundraising. It is hard to ask people for money, even if it is for a good cause. All those feelings felt silly when I was in a room with 5000 people from across the country who had raised at least as much as I did. All these people had a story, their own reasons for taking on this challenge and raising money for such an important cause.
I did not sleep well the night before the race, I was too nervous. The morning of the race, the nerves went away and the excitement kicked in. Being in Union Square in the early morning as the sun began to rise, surrounded by 20,000 people was pretty surreal. A little after 7am, I walked across the starting line and started running. Those first three miles were the best three miles I have ever run, I ran them with no problem. Then came mile four. My reoccurring knee problem started, and I had excruciating pain with every step that I took. It really didn't matter though, I could get through it. I ran a little, I walked a little and I cried a little..I was doing this. I thought about what cancer patients and their families have to endure every day, a little knee pain was not going to stop me.
On the bottom of my shirt, written upside down, I had the names of children I know fighting cancer and one young woman and a little boy who lost their battles. When I thought that there was no way that I could take another step, I could just look down and see those names..they kept me going. I thought of their moms who can't stop fighting. No matter how hard it gets and how tired they are, they have to keep fighting. I ran behind people who had survivor written on their shirt and people who had photographs of those they were running for on their shirt, that kept me going.
The feeling I had when I saw and crossed that finish line was better than and more emotional than I could have imagined. I did it, I completed a 13 mile race. Four months ago, I could not run a mile, but I completed a 13 mile race in just over 3 hours. It actually wasn't really a race for me, I sure was not going to win, I was just happy to get to the finish line. The race is over for me, but not for those still fighting cancer. Unfortunately for them, the journey does not end after 4 months or 13 miles . They are in an ongoing race with hope of eventually crossing that finish line and winning.
Oh Michelle, Congratulations! What a great and inspirational account of what it was like for you to complete this race and achieve this goal.
By the time I got to the part where you looked down at the names on your shirt, the tears were streaming down my face.
I feel like I owe you a huge personal thank you! Thank you for supporting this cause and thank you for honoring those of us that are on this journey with that finish line in our sights.
Posted by: Becky | November 03, 2008 at 02:05 PM
wonderful post.
Posted by: bubbie of eli,zoe,ari and izzy | November 03, 2008 at 02:45 PM
Where is the goofy girl I met in high school? Who knew she would turn into such an inspirational woman and mom? You amaze me Michelle! And brought tears again when I saw my Super Jake on your shirt. Thank you for running for my boy! LOVE YOU!
Posted by: Patty | November 03, 2008 at 03:43 PM
You got me crying too! The names... That got me.
I am so proud of you.
Posted by: Sharon | November 03, 2008 at 04:01 PM
Yeah Michelle! I am so proud of you! A wonderful cause!
Posted by: Wendy | November 03, 2008 at 04:29 PM
Congrats Michelle! That's awesome!!!
Posted by: Matt | November 03, 2008 at 05:12 PM
I'm in tears. Really I have no words to express how proud I am of what you trained for, what you did and all that it stands for. You are truly an inspiration to me Michelle.
xo
*Thanks again for the reminder to live life to the MAX :)
Posted by: Carrie Hasson | November 03, 2008 at 06:13 PM
What you did was amazing and I am so proud of you as my sister, a mom and the amazing woman you are. I think may want to do this next year..unsure if my knees will allow me but I think I may try.
Posted by: Jenn | November 04, 2008 at 09:05 AM
congratulations michelle!
Posted by: jeramy | November 04, 2008 at 09:27 AM
Shmelly! Nicole linked me to your blog ages ago and I've been keeping up with your life silently. :)
I am SO PROUD OF YOU for running the 1/2 marathon! What a HUGE accomplishment
Love, Holly ( fellow mom,wife and runner or long distances!)
Posted by: Holly | November 04, 2008 at 07:27 PM