Lessons From Writing My Marathon Book
When I first started writing my marathon book back in 2008, I really didn’t think I would ever run another full marathon again. But as I wrote each chapter of the book, it seeped back into my bones, and eventually it became clear to me that I would indeed run another full 26.2 mile marathon. Why?
Well for starters, I really do believe I can run a better race. Through the process of writing and reflecting on all the aspects of my marathon training program, I came to realize that I’m still learning. And it would be a shame to not put into action all those valuable lessons that I learned from training, running and finishing my first marathon.
I now know what it is like to put it all on the line: to dig for and find the will and determination to see something all the way through. To find the infinitely amazing spirit and drive that is buried deep within myself to be gathered up when I need it most.
Until I was put to the test, how did I know if I truly had these qualities in me or not? I had never really been a quitter before, but I’d also never really challenged myself to such an extreme degree, either.
I hoped I did, but it was not until I was at my lowest and most desperate point in the race – the point where my fatigue and delirium were screaming at me and praying “Please, God!” for relief – that I came up against the question – Should I continue on or should I quit?
My feet had been pounding relentlessly on the pavement for 20 plus miles, my body reverberating from the never-ending percussion; my right calf was cramping up; my leg muscles felt like the overcooked-to- the- point-of-charred, dried-out, roasted wienie barely hanging on to the end of a hot dog stick. I was overheated from running in the 90 degree plus temperatures, probably dehydrated, and most definitely delirious with physical and mental exhaustion. It’s actually kind of surprising that I wasn’t reduced to the point of singing the ABC song while following a hallucination of a baby elephant down the street.
Although there was no hallucinating, there was a point where I was feeling defeated and ready to quit, and hearing the confidence and support on the other end of my call for help, the absolute belief and encouragement emanating from my cell phone, pretty much wiped the defeat out of me, and kept me from repeating the thought that I was ready to quit.
It was then I knew I had it in me – what it took to finish – not only the marathon, but whatever else life could throw my way. I continued on, definitely slower and in pain and misery, but with the knowledge I was going to complete my journey and the strength in my heart to carry it through to the finish line. After all, I had to make it to the balloons!! 
Running a marathon for me was the best life lesson I could have ever had…and I’m going to go back for a refresher course!
How ‘bout it?
Vision Runner
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Tags: blind, blind runner, legally blind runner, marathon, marathon book, marathon training, marathon training program, marathon training runs, Missoula Marathon, run, Runner, Running, running a marathon, training for a marathon, training runs, Vision Runner
