A Decade of Inspiration

When I ran the LA marathon for the first time, who knew I would still be running a decade later? Who knew that my dad would succumb to cancer and pass away peacefully in his sleep the next morning after I completed my first marathon? Who knew? I couldn't have imagined either of those things, and I couldn't have imagined that this year, I will be running the LA Marathon for the 10th time in a row. Running that marathon 10 years ago was something I did to honor my dad. I had not imagined that after that horrible day that I would ever run another marathon again but here I am. My dad inspired me to do something different. I could have come up with several ways to show him that I was along in the fight against cancer but I chose a marathon for a reason. A marathon seemed like the most out of sorts thing I could do. After all, I hated running. I chose something that most people hate and let alone 26 miles of it. The result was a painful experience. It was a battle with something I had no experience with and I was not prepared at all but my dad was not prepared for battling cancer so I had no excuse.
I suffered that day of the marathon but I knew that it was nothing compared to what my dad went through day in and day out. I fought mile, after mile and it took everything in me not to quit but I completed the battle of the 26 mile race only to learn the next morning that my dad’s battle was over. I was unsure how to feel and what to do and running supplied me an escape from all my problems and the stresses of the world and it became my safe haven. I knew that the LA Marathon and I would always be connected and I wanted to continue that connection by vowing to run the LA marathon every year until I just cannot do it anymore.

Each year, I draw inspiration from my dad to continue to train hard no matter the injuries, no matter the setbacks, and no matter the situation. Each year someone seems to ask me if I am running the marathon and I respond the same way each year, which is “what do you think”? If I have to crawl to finish the race, then that is what I will do.
This year, as I continue to train and prepare for the race, I felt that it would only be fitting to honor two people who have inspired me and that is my friend Larry Henderson and my friend Caryn Roach. This past year, Larry had a brain tumor removed and then he had to deal with the horrors of chemotherapy and treatments all year long. Larry kept his faith and he remained positive and through God’s will, he came out with a clean bill of health. Not once, did I ever hear him complain. Instead he remained optimistic, and faithful and strong, showing that there is nothing you cannot overcome when you believe. He proved that no tumor or illness could keep him down. He showed what a person of true will and an unbreakable spirit can accomplish. Larry amazed me and inspired me to realize that there was no one thing I could complain about and that I had every reason to get off my ass and make every minute count.

Then there is Caryn. Not sure what to say about Caryn except, if you know Caryn then I shouldn't have to say much. I am not sure I have ever seen her with anything except a smile on her face so it only seemed natural that after a diagnosis of Hodgkins Lymphoma she would be a little grumpy but instead of being grumpy she helped raise money for Team in Training and then went out and ran 3:49 in the Tinkerbell Half-Marathon. Not impressed, well you should be because it was four months after her diagnosis and after 8 treatments of chemotherapy. Are you kidding me???. With a nasty blister that barely left any skin on her foot Caryn relentlessly pushed on and on until crossing the finishing line. If you need to be convinced of her heart and will after that, then you need your ass kicked and Caryn is just the person to do it. I cannot say enough about Caryn and her resilience and my heart is with her as she continues her fight to beat cancer and her road back to recovery. I am use to seeing Caryn somewhere out on the marathon course, battling those last few miles and I know she is unable to run this year but I hope to see her on the sidelines cheering on.

If you need inspiration, then you should look no further. Larry and Caryn are two of my heroes. I cannot walk in their shoes, but I can be here as a friend to let them know how much I care about their struggles and their battles through the treatments, through the ups, the downs, and the days when it just downright sucks. This year, I am running to pay honor to both of them as they've inspired me and they are two real life heroes. As I step to the line for the 10th year in a row of the LA Marathon, it will be memorable for so many reasons. Caryn and Larry, thanks for the inspiration and know that you always have my support and friendship.


Race only matters if you are running one!