My first race was my way of dealing with a great deal of loss in a short period of time. It was cathartic. I ran it with a group of friends back in Tennessee to remember and celebrate one of my oldest friends, Mark King. I just finished my second race, and this one was more about fighting back. It seemed too serendipitous that the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend was so close to Mark's birthday, and he worked for Disney for so long. I signed up and hit the trails.
This season, I found more reasons to run. Enough that I have at least one person for every mile of my race. I've made a point to remember survivors, too, just to remind myself that some do survive.
Mile1: Emma Rae Perkins who has many more miles to go thankfully!
Mile 2: Dennis Sweat who I never met, but whose daughter helped me keep going when I started thinking this whole running thing might not have been so smart.
Mile 3: Gino H. and Jim Matthews who are beating the odds!
Mile 4: Mark King. This is my hardest mile mentally, and he is why I never stop.
Mile 5: Jim Galloway. Little girls should not have to lose their daddies.
Mile 6: Nate Tutt. Far too young to be gone.
Mile 7: Don Harmon. For the little girl in me who can't remember a time I didn't know Mr. Harmon.
Mile 8: Glen Weatherly. This is my hardest mile physically, and I will never forget the way he fought.
Mile 9: Marshall Ramsey whose story of survival is a source of power. He never gives up and neither will I!
Mile 10: Fred and Betty White. Two of the best people I've ever known. I'm glad he has someone to lay his clothes out for him in heaven.
Mile 11: Aunt Deloris who may not have much of her race left.
Mile 12: Karen Young who is cancer free!
Mile 13: Ted Duning. May we all finish our races with such grace.
And that last tenth of a mile? That little bit when I cross the finish line is mine. It's my moment to celebrate love being greater than loss, and will being stronger than all the pain.
Next up, Nike Women's Half Marathon in DC on April 28.
