When I was setting my goals for 2009, qualifying for the Boston Marathon was number one. I had only run one marathon at the time, but realized God had given me a talent for running. I had just been introduced to the "fast guys" in town and was ready to ramp up my training. The plan was to run Abilene in April and qualify for Boston, then try and break the 3 hour mark.
A week before the Eisenhower race, I had a "fun run" planned. Little did I know the fun was about to be over. On the last leg of a relay in 40+ mile an hour cross winds, I was introduced to a new part of my body. The iliotibial band or ITB. This ITB injury in my left leg was a stabbing pain that stopped me in my tracks. The following Saturday was my race, I made it 8.5 miles before I was carried off the course, writhing in pain. I spent the next two months only thinking about running, not actually doing it.
After four months of physical therapy, I was finally back to running and eager to get back into marathon condition. I began ramping up the miles and won my first half marathon in October with a time of 1:27. With only six weeks to go, I was ready for the marathon.
Two weeks before the Gobbler Grind Marathon, I was out on a tempo run when I began to feel a familiar pain in my leg. This time it was my right leg and the pain was not as severe. I eased up the pace, finished the run and took the week off. The next weekend, the pain was still present and I set a time to get into the physical therapist. After four days of the five, I could only run about 2 miles without having the ITB flare up on me. Race day was two days away...
Sunday morning started like most others, with prayer. Probably a little more than most today though. I knew I couldn't run 26.2 miles with this injury, I needed God's help. I ate a litte, had some coffee and headed to the race locale.
At 8:00 am the race began, the first couple of miles were AWESOME! Somewhere between mile 2 and 3 my ITB reminded me it wasn't up for this. A friend of mine was keeping a close eye on me and I told him at mile 3 to stay close. I don't usually run with an IPOD, but felt that the sound of worship music would help me to stay focused on God and not think about my injury. My ITB flared off and on for the entire race. At mile 15, I slowed for some water and the pain was excruciating as I started back into my running pace. This was the first time I truly felt I would possibly have to stop the race.
I pushed through the next few miles with my mind wandering and wondering about how far I was actually going to make it today. At mile 23, there was my family! My 17 year old son jumped on the course and led me to the finish line. He asked me how fast I needed to run to hit my qualifying time and I told him. A couple of times, I had to ask him to slow down, but he always kept me in the race.
THE WALL: Mile 24, as if the ITB issue wasn't enough, now I hit the wall. I had fueled properly throughout the race and was fortunate that my body didn't crash earlier. The last two miles were loooong miles. Eric did a great job of keeping my head in the race and focused on the goal.
3:18:14 was on the clock when I finished. I was finished, my leg was hurting, my toes were hurting, but I felt AWESOME. I had done it, I had qualified for the Boston Marathon. I couldn't tell Eric "thanks" enough times after the race. It meant the world to me to have him get me there.
I am thankful for the support of my friends and family who supported me up to, during and after this race. I appreciate the work of the physical therapists who assisted in my rehab up to the race and especially EW for pushing me during training. Training that I couldn't (or maybe wouldn't) have done without you.
All that said, I give the glory to Jesus Christ for carrying me through the last 24 miles. Without His healing hand, I would have not completed this race.
