At First It Was About the Running

I have to admit, at first my marathon effort was about the running. It was my newest addiction with fabulous health benefits, social networking benefits and a huge contributing factor to my new love affair with how good my legs look. Sure, I was open to the fundraising effort, but it wasn’t my driving force.
I’ve never been one to participate in charity work. I have avoided being involved when it comes to illness, suffering and need, whether it be cancer, the economy or otherwise. I’ve always felt so powerless. What can I do? What can I say? I’m just little me and those things are so big. So, I’ve avoided them. Avoided talking about them. Learning about them or getting involved in any way with them.

Something amazing has happened with my marathon training. It’s like I just woke up one day and it wasn’t about the running anymore. It was about the niece battling leukemia of an unknown girl at the bar who strong armed the patrons, to GIVE something, anything to this cause, as I was only gently requesting donations. I saw firsthand how it mattered to her. It was about a little boy that asked his mom why she could go home and he had to stay at the hospital. I know it matters to him. It was about a freshman at college who is determined to make his grades and continue on even with debilitating pain and no promise of an end in sight. I can see that this makes a difference in his life. Something broke through for me and I wept for these children, families, mothers, fathers, sisters and brothers that are faced with their own mortality or potential loss of loved ones, without fairness, without explanation.

I have found myself inspired to reach out and to speak up, not for me, but for them!

Running has given me personal physical strength. It has given me emotional strength. It has challenged me to go further than I could go, faster than I thought I could and to carry on when I have wanted to quit. Running has helped given me courage to face challenges in my own life and helped me find my own power to make real and lasting changes in my personal circumstances.

That personal power has transformed into something bigger. This marathon is giving me the opportunity to place one foot in front of the other and help someone else in need. It helped me realize my own strength and commitment matter. It helped me realize, even though I cannot make it go away, I am not completely powerless to things like cancer. I realized that my footsteps can make a difference and that my voice counts. I know now that I may be small, but not insignificant. I am so very grateful that I am able to contribute even if it is only at a small level.

Sure, I am looking forward to crossing that finish line for the personal accomplishment. But it really isn’t about the running anymore. I don’t think I have the personal desire to actually complete 26.2 miles for me. I have nothing to prove and I am adverse to pain. I would have bailed on this event by now, but I won’t. I can’t. It is no longer for me. Your donation counts and if you aren’t able to contribute to this cause or even another, please take time to pray for those in need, as THAT IS powerful too.