Finding Inspiration

Pictures from Hunt Farm
Tow Path Run with TNT

These past weeks have been increasingly difficult. Yes, the mileage is a lot longer, but that is only a portion of the challenge. The last few miles of my long runs have taken every last ounce of energy and every portion of will power that I can manage.

The mental challenge of running long distances was something that I was not prepared for. A few weeks ago I almost gave up. It was icy and there was two inches of snow on the trail. As if that was not difficult enough, on the return portion of the run, the sun came out and started melting the snow turning it into two inches of slush. My feet were soaked, I had blisters on the entire arch of my foot, and my jacket was chaffing around my neck. With two miles to go I just could not go any further.

At that point I received a text message from my sister. I welcomed the distraction and the excuse to stop and walk. She inquired how my run went and I confessed that I was struggling to finish. She replied “Then get off the phone and finish. You can go this!”

Pictures from Hunt Farm
Tow Path Run with TNT

I put my phone away and said, “I can do this.” I got back to running. It was just as difficult as ever, but I was determined to finish. I started thinking about why I was doing it. I thought of my sister running with me. I thought of all the people that have supported me through donations and encouragement. I thought of everything my husband has given up so I could train. And most of all, I thought of Mikey. He is my honoree for this marathon. I thought of everything that Mikey went through while receiving treatment for leukemia. I thought of how much he endured through spinal taps and chemo at the age of four. I told myself that if a four-year-old could fight through years of battling leukemia, then I could fight through another two miles. I dug down and I finished the last two miles sweating and panting the whole way, but I finished!

Pictures from Hunt Farm
Tow Path Run with TNT

The following week, my sister also had a rough run and considered quitting. We decided to run together for the next long run and that run was very enjoyable. We chatted the whole way and barely noticed as the miles passed. We were still tired from the run, but having each other helped us keep our minds off of the effort.

My 18 mile run was with Team in Training. The first seven miles were no problem. For the next several miles I ran with one of the coaches. Again, talking helped the miles to fly by. We discussed what he called “Mind Over Marathon.”  I explained how unexpected the mental challenge was. He said that in his opinion the physical preparation only accounted for 10% of the marathon. The other 90% was mental. One piece of advice he gave me was break the run into mini-goals. Instead of focusing on completing a marathon, he suggested to look at each individual run and break it down even further.

I ran the last 6 miles on my own. Once again when I got to the last 2 miles I struggled. I started doing what the coach suggested and breaking my run into smaller goals. I told myself that if I ran to the bench up ahead, I’d walk for twenty steps. If I made it to the tree, I’d walk for ten seconds. The mini-goals worked.
There was another runner that looked to be doing the same thing (mini-goal setting). We passed each other back and forth the entire two miles.

Pictures from Hunt Farm
Tow Path Run with TNT



When I made it back to the parking lot, I stretched and chatted with the coach hanging out for the return runners. The other mini-goal runner also finished her run at the same parking lot and walked over. I expected her to say something about us passing each other, but was very surprised and very touched by what she said.

The woman was a two time Hodgkin’s survivor. She expressed her sincere gratitude for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and especially for all the people volunteering to run and raise money through Team in Training. We talked about what she had gone through and how the support of LLS and TNT helped her through her ordeals.

The conversation that I had in that parking lot was like being smacked by the two-by-four of reality.

I am running this marathon and going through these struggles so that people like Mikey and that woman have the medicine and support they need to see another day.

 

Pictures from Hunt Farm
Tow Path Run with TNT



I am doing this so that I can have conversations tomorrow with someone who is fighting cancer today.

Ten years ago I would not have had the privilege to talk to that woman in the parking lot, and it is because of LLS and TNT that I received that special gift of inspiration!

Yes, I am working hard training and raising funds, but it is just a small effort in the bigger scheme of things. My inspiration is everyone that is fighting, has survived, or has been touched by blood cancer.