The Heart of a Marathon Runner is unique, focused, and
driven. What drives these runners? What sparked their desire to (what I would
choose to call torment) run 26.2 miles?
I know for one runner, Mark, that it is the opportunity to “run with our
angel.” The hours, the fatigue, the
miles, and the injuries, is it really worth it?
For Mark, it is a resounding “Yes!”
Hence, he wants to run the Boston Marathon… again!
I have attended every marathon Mark has run. And every time, I shed tears as he crosses
that finish line. The Boston Marathon
was no different last week. This
particular marathon, I went with my eyes and heart wide open. I was searching to find those “moments” that
would speak to my heart. I found them.
As I watched the first of the Men’s Wheelchair speed by, I
could not help but notice the drive he possessed to cross the finish line. It was touching. Then the first of the Women’s Wheelchair sped
by, her focus and skill were inspiring.
As each of the wheelchair marathoner’s sped to the finish, the crowds
cheered, clapped, and even rang their cowbells to honor and praise their
accomplishments. Being a spectator at
that moment was incredible.
As the Elite runners came in, the crowds again roared with
cheers, clapping, and those awesome cowbells. (Yes, I possess many of
them!) They were inspiring as they ran
effortlessly; it seemed, across that finish line.
There are a few incidents that really touched me, and I want
to share them. First, there were many
marathoners who passed by who were struggling from leg cramps, physical
illness (vomiting/diahrrea~I could never run for fear that that would be me),
passing out, or legs giving out on them.
At this point in the race, these runners were only 1 ½
blocks from the finish line. Their medal
was in sight and nothing was going to keep them from crossing. As these particular runners passed by, the
spectators erupted in cheering as if we were willing them and giving them the
energy to keep going. The runners with
leg cramps found it within themselves to keep going and literally gimped along
until they either crossed or collapsed over the finish line. They had their goal in mind and they
accomplished it.
There were military men and women dressed in their fatigues
and boots running the race. Every
American cheered wildly for them. There
was the veteran amputee running who was carrying the American Flag the entire
26.2 miles. He was inspirational and
brought the Marathon crowds to cheering at a new record decibel level.
Then there was the moment when a man literally fell in front
of me. He simply could not get his legs
to keep him standing. Each of us
spectators that were standing in front of him and watching began to yell words
of encouragement~offering what we possibly could verbally to help him. It really was to no avail. EMT’s came up to him and offered to give him
a hand to help him up. He took their
hands, but he simply was unable to remain standing. He only had 1 ½ blocks to go. He turned to the oncoming runners, and as a
beggar, he put out his hand and quietly mouthed, “Help me.” There were many runners who passed by him. And then, two men stopped. They got on either side of this man and each
took one of his arms and put them around their necks. Those runners sacrificed their marathon time
in order to help this man. They lifted
him and carried him across the finish line.
I began to ponder that moment. We all need to get to that finish line. Many of us face different trials in
life. We need to keep perspective and
the drive to make our way through them.
And occasionally, there are those good Samaritans who stop and offer
assistance through whatever ways they can.
A thought came to me that I need to do more sacrificing in order to help
and lift others. I simply need to be
more Christ-like.
Of course, the climax was to see Mark coming toward me on
the street. I could see he was running
on empty, but pushing through to the end.
He had the same goal every other runner had and that was to “cross that
finish line!” And, he did. Because, #herunswithourangel.
