On Sunday October 25th I set out to run my third marathon.  I used a slightly different approach to training this time.  I run on a regular basis, but nothing compares to the last 3 miles in a marathon.  Well, at least from my perspective.  And, perspective is really what this years effort was all about.

First I have to comment on the some of the signs I saw.  I compiled a nice little list on the train ride home with my running partner Michael Smith.  By the way, this was Mike’s first marathon and he did a GREAT job.  There really isn’t a more upbeat person to run with.  Never doubting he would finish Mike and I met at the appropriately positioned beer tent on North Lynn Street in Rosalyn.  Imagine 30000 runners and their families and friends gathering at a great downtown intersection.  Then imagine those runners lining up for the two beers they get from Michelob.  I was able to find the woman responsible for beer distribution and asked her how many kegs they go through.  25 FULL kegs, which translates into 4500 12oz beers or in their case translates into 6000 beers since the cups were smaller.  Ok, enough beer math.  Let’s move onto the signs!

Imagine 645am 30000 runners gathering in the dark prior to sunrise.  Music blasting, people moving about and then we are in our spots.  The CANNON goes off, yes cannon not gun, and we are off.  Clothes are flying everywhere since people shed their stuff at the beginning.  At first I was a bit dismayed at the thought of all those clothes going to waste.  Actually, I was going really slow to check out what was in the road in case I wanted to pickup something nice!  Kidding, kidding.  Actually what the Marines do is gather every article, wash it, then distribute them to needy.  Very cool.  Now the signs begin.  Right at the start.

26.2 miles blame Phidippides  (The Greek God responsible for my pain)

Don’t poop your pants
Your feet hurt cuz your kickin ass
Free mimosas if you stop now
Beer stop
The end is near (A guy dressed in a grim reaper outfit clanging a cowbell – Bring out your dead)
Its not your sweat its your fat cells crying
Hoorah – (Marine Corp yelp)
Pain is weakness leaving the body
If a marathon was easy it would be called your mom
Do something that scares you once a day
Beer is near
Run to the beer
I love you mom and I love you dad

Great stuff right?  Now onto perspective and what mine was before during and after the race.

Before the race, run or marathon depending your perspective, I was selfish.  This is for “me”, “my” mother and “I” want to beat my time from prior years.  That all changed in an instant when I started seeing the tee shirts of fallen soldiers.  Loved ones that are now gone forever.  Shirts like, “I will never forget you”.  “I love you Mom” and “In memory of…”.  Then when I saw the blind Marine running with his partner.  They were tethered by a small rope to keep the blind man from veering off course.  Finally, but not completely, the Marine with two heavily disfigured legs doing the entire marathon on crutches.  Those and many other sites and sounds put the entire day into perspective for me.

After I was done I sat in some pain, some reflection and overall humbled.  Not by the 26.2 miles that others and I completed but humbled by the determination and mental fortitude some of the 30000 runners showed me.

Semper Fi.

Related posts:

1. Psychological Determination and Why I Run
2. How Do You Do It?
3. Running Your First 5k