Suffering a small case of PTSD after my Chicago Marathon experience, I was so happy to cross the finish line at the Shamrock Marathon in Virginia Beach. The goal was simply to finish, and that was accomplished. Time/pace didn’t discount in any way (my slowest marathon time yet–3:41) the euphoric moment of a passing over that line. It just doesn’t get old, even as we age. We carry all our life’s challenges with us when we race and we leave it there on the pavement when we finish. A renewed spirit emerges from an exhausted body. Finishing a marathon is so sweet.
It was so great to share the weekend with long distance friends. A pre-race word of encouragement, a shared obsession about the location of the bathroom, and a familiar voice to tow you in at the final stretch, reminds me that this may be an individual effort but is still a team sport.
Some observations about the Shamrock Marathon:
Good:
- Loved the hometown feeling omitted by not only the staff, but the fellow runners along the course. It is the most supportive running crowd I have ever encountered in a big race like this. Maybe it was all the green that united this group, but when I was struggling on mile 22, I was hearing all kinds of encouraging words as runner passed me. So awesome. This race was not too crowded and I discovered I really like that better than the huge crowds of the bigger races.
- Nice Swag: Awesome race tech shirt from the expo. No bag full of crap brochures as they went with a virtual goody bag. AND then as you cross the finish line, they hand you yet another finisher shirt and running cap. It made up for the truly ugly (sorry…it just was) medal.
Not so good:
[click to continue…]
{ 1 comment }
