Notes on a Marthon

First off, thank you so much to everyone who donated to Doctors Without Borders on behalf of our Marathon. We raised nearly $900, which we were pretty excited about. The run itself as you can see below went well and although we finished well behind the front runners, we did finish and that felt damn good. As you will also see my shirt that started around my waist in the first pictures (those were around mile 17) made its way to my knee somewhere toward the 21st mile marker. I had injured my hamstring while training for this beast and wasn't even sure if I was going to make it more than half way, but as any of you know who have tried a marathon, the adrenaline pushes you through somehow. I tied the shirt around my knee to take some pressure off and it seemed to be enough to get through the remainder of the race (although very slowly). Allison is a machine and had little trouble besides the obvious peaks and trenches that come up in running twenty-six miles. The rest of the day after the race was a waste, as was most of the following day being barely able to walk. My body still, two days after, feels extremely out of whack. My legs are starting to feel better, but I can't seem to drink enough water to stay hydrated and there is this strange body buzz sensation still lingering from the endorphins as my brain probably thinks I just experienced a car wreck. That being said, I highly recommend it to anyone who has been thinking about it. Five months ago I had never run more than seven miles in my life and now I think I will definitely try this again (although probably not for a year or so). I think the thrill of the event isn't your time or the supportive crowds or seeing mile after mile pass by as you mindlessly sling your limbs in a forwardly direction, but experiencing the endless well of energy and will power that keeps coming despite the pain and the tears and the logical mind telling you to stop this (did I mention the pain...good, cause it f-ing hurts).

Yes, marathons are an adrenaline junkie's dream and an intellectual person's nightmare, but whomever you are I recommend trying it at least once just to know what you're capable of. I met a guy named Daniel at Outward Bound and when I asked him about his spiritual affiliation, he said, "I don't know if there is a God and I don't put much stock the idea that there is, but I'll never understand how people can have perfectly functional bodies and minds and never push themselves hard enough to know what those gifts are capable of. That's why I get up and run every morning. It's a celebration of my working limbs." That was the best rationale I had ever heard for physical activity and I've been running ever since. I agree that it is a sad state of affairs when people have everything within their power to achieve great things and don't even realize it because they put their stock in higher powers. If you want to win the lottery, you have to buy a ticket. If you want to achieve your highest good, you have to leave your comfort zone.

Be well. Think big. Use your gifts for good.

Cheers,
Jeff