Tuesday, February 16, 2016

Sunday the 13th

Boy does 13 years go by in a blink but this past Sunday, my 13th consecutive running of the LA Marathon did not go by in a blink. I always get the question as to why would I put myself through a grueling 26.2 mile race and my answer is pretty much the same but the truth is I made a decision a while back that I would run every LA marathon since my first running of the race in 2004. That miserable experience ignited me to start from scratch and learn everything I needed to know about being a runner. It also didn’t hurt to be motivated by my dad passing away the morning after completing the first race. My dad was the reason I ran the race in the first place. Through the ups and downs of running, I continue to find the motivation and the desire to lace them up week in and week out and get outside and train not just for the marathon but for better health and overall fitness.

What happens in the LA Marathon is something amazing each and every year. I never quite know what to expect or how to best prepare but on Sunday, I found myself at mile 20 feeling miserable, tired and on the brink of complete and utter meltdown but still 6.2 miles remain in front of me. I have been here 13 times so I have felt this before and I have experiences all the highs and all the lows but it is amazing that in a matter of minutes, things can go from good to worse.

On Sunday, my ankle and knee were so painful that each time I planted my left leg on the pavement, I cringed in pain. I figured I could just master the pain for 6 miles but it just was not possible. My body just would not do what I wanted it to do and so for the remaining 6.2 miles, I had to embrace the situation and I had to understand that this would be a miserable 6 miles of the race and deep down I could hear my dad challenging me to see if I had the heart to fight through the pain and agony knowing I would finish the race but I would have to go through potential hell to do so. That is why I run this race. I want that challenge and I feed off of that challenge. If you can conquer the doubt, the fear and the pain, then what can’t you do? Life comes at you one mile at a time but you just have to stay on course to cross the finish line! 13 done and many more to come!!!


Keep those miles coming…..