What marathons mean to me
There are a lot of things happening in our world right now … things that don’t make sense and have us asking a lot of tough questions. Maybe you are way beyond the point of asking questions – and *really* just want answers! How do we make sense of it all? What’s it all mean? Why is this happening now? And what can or should we do about it?
I don’t have the answers, but what I DO know is that a powerful way to bridge healing and understanding, is through sharing our feelings and our stories. So with that in mind and heart … I want to share a bit about what marathons mean to me.
The day after the bombing, I read an article that really resonated entitled “The People Who Watch Marathons” by Erin Gloria Ryan. Here’s a quote from the article:
“One of the many puzzling aspects of yesterday’s attacks was the question of what, exactly, the perpetrators thought they’d accomplish by targeting what basically amounts to a celebration of human tenacity. If anything, the tragedy in Boston will further solidify the bond between runner and spectator … If anyone thought this attack would discourage the runners or the watchers, they’ve clearly never been to a marathon.”
Ditto THAT! As a kid, I saw my dad, at 50 years old, proudly cross the finish line of his first marathon (and then throw up). I also watched and celebrated as my sister who, as part of a relay team, crossed a marathon finish line. Several other relatives and friends of mine have also prevailed over this extraordinary 26.2 mile challenge.
On several occasions, I’ve been known to attend, to cheer, and to be moved to tears – for hours – at marathons with no one I know (or know that I know) in them. And while it pales in comparison to a marathon, on the receiving end, as someone who has run two 5K races, I’ve been so incredibly grateful for the energy and encouragement of spectators.
My heart is with all who were effected by what happened in Boston on April 15th.
In the spirit of banding together, let’s take pause and really invest in giving ourselves the gift of time for reflection, to consider how to best make YOUR contribution to the joy and peace of the world. The time is NOW.
May your dreams always inspire more than they intimidate,
Recent Comments