Potomac River Run Marathon....for Liza

I have to apologize for not posting this past week. I started to write several times, but the words just wouldn't come. Quite honestly it was the hardest week yet, mainly because of all the issues that have compounded with my IT band.  It was gut-wrenchingly difficult on both a physical and mental level. So many people have contacted me about my journey and have told me what an inspiration and motivation I have been to them. This week I felt like I needed a great deal of faith and motivation myself. It's been so very frustrating having one part of your body out of whack and as a result everything else functions differently, throwing all your other muscles into a conundrum.

After a very painful marathon the week before, I went to see the doc, trying to make sure there was nothing more serious than just an IT band issue going on with my leg. I got an X-Ray to check for a possible stress fracture, but it didn't show anything abnormal. I've heard that X-Rays are not a very good tool for diagnosing stress fractures, so I didn't feel overwhelming excited. Still, I hoped that my prescription to physical therapy would give me some relief.  I was fortunate to have 8 days between marathons and I dedicated the entire week to rest and healing, going in for massage therapy once and physical therapy twice.

I made the mistake of going to both therapies in one day and both decided to dig deep into my leg. At my physical therapist told me she wanted to use a tool to work even deeper than her hands. I sat there wondering what kind of tool she was going to use and when she came back with the "tool" I'm sure I had a bizarre look on my face. It looked like an ice scraper that you'd use on your car! I thought to myself, "this can't be good." I hate it when I'm right about these kinds of things! All the same, I told her I'd do my best to deal with the pain of the treatment if it meant it would help, but seriously where was my stick to bite?! The aftermath was almost as painful to look at as it was to endure. Always camera happy about my running experiences, I had to take a picture. To her credit, I do bruise easily, but I didn't expect to turn up that battered from it all.

 Yep, fun times!

Saturday I picked up my race packet and had the pleasure to speak at the pre-race pasta dinner at the La Lucia Restaurant in downtown Alexandria, VA. Jay Jacob Wind, director of the Potomac River Run Marathon had been so kind to invite me to come share my story and the challenge I'm undertaking this year.

 

I even dressed up - weird not to be wearing running shoes!                                           

I had no trouble finding the words for my 20 minute talk and loved it even more for being a small, quaint dinner. We were set up in their in private dining room  that was lined with every bottle of wine imaginable. I got to meet up with my friend Kay and several other people who were excited about my marathon journey. The pasta was great and the company even better, I only wish I felt more at ease for the task at hand. I wasn't sure what to expect come race morning. I didn't know how well my body had recovered in the week, or how another 26.2 would feel.

Race morning I got up extra early as I wanted to take advantage of the early start being offered. With temps looking to climb up towards 90 for the day I figured getting started early would save me an hour in the heat and give me a little more time to cover the distance. Apparently my GPS had other ideas and my attempts to get there for the 6AM early start quickly fell apart. I finally found where I needed to be and at least had plenty of time to prepare for the start. I met up with one of my Facebook friends, Mb Holmes, at the start and had the chance to talk with several other runners before we began. As we took off  I got an immediate answer to  the question I had been asking myself all week. How well had my body recovered? It wasn't the answer I was looking for. The first 2 miles were excruciatingly painful and I was without a doubt favoring my right leg. My stride turned into more of a limp/run and I couldn't help but feel overwhelmingly frustrated that even with the rest and all, this was the best I could muster. After a couple miles, my muscles warmed up and the pain was much more bearable, although still significant with each and every step. I knew it would be another day to battle through and I just had to stay focused, stay the course.

Mb and Me at the start

Getting ready for another 26.2!

The marathon took place on the C&O Canal (Chesapeake & Ohio Canal) Towpath that runs over 184 miles starting in Washington DC and ending in Cumberland, MD. It was built between 1828 and 1850, operating sporadically between floods until 1924. It eventually became a National Historic Park in 1971 and today much of the canal has been drained of water and reclaimed by the forest. Our race started in Carderock, MD and was a double out and back course.

 Views from the course

I found the scenery and path to be quite enjoyable, with the sweet smell of honeysuckle everywhere. We were blessed to have an overcast day, and the trees on the path provided a good deal of shade which became more and more sought after as the temps climbed. At the start it was close to 75 degrees with high humidity. This was not a day to skip hydration! With my slow, limping pace, I got to the half way point at 2:22 and took some pain killers to help me push through the second half. It was becoming uncomfortably humid by this point, but my only concern was to keep moving. I came across Mb around mile 17 and ran with her for a bit, that is, until I caught my foot on a rock/root and took a nasty spill. Being propelled in a forward motion, I couldn't catch myself, and more importantly I was tried to brace the camera I was carrying. I did my best to protect it, and aside from a couple scratches it didn't seem any worse for the ware. I, on the other hand, cut up my right knee and arm. Blood and dirt, talk about perfect! I had just started to feel like I was in a good groove with my pace when it happened and by the time I got up, dusted myself off and started running again that was long gone. The aches and pains returned and I felt like I was back to square one.

 My coordination and talent lands me this!

Frustrated with how I felt, I shifted my focus off myself and thought about why I was running in the first place. I thought about Liza, the 4 year old orphan, who's picture was on my back. She is a sweet, quiet little girl whose parents died when she was a baby. She lives in the Canzibe area of the Ngqeleni District of Eastern Cape of South Africa with an aunt who is also caring for many other children. She is able to attend preschool on the grounds of the Canzibe mission and loves her friends and teachers. Amy Zacaroli, co-founder of 25:40, recently visited South Africa and met Liza. Amy realized that Liza had just turned 4 the day before so she talked with Nkosana, the manager of 25:40's Orphan and Vulnerable Children Action Program. He immediately went to his modest home and retrieved a box of biscuits. Amy wrote her a little card and delivered the small gift to her. Liza didn't quite know what to do with it. Her teacher sat her at the head of a long table and the whole class sang Happy Birthday to her. She stared at her present, as though she didn't know she was supposed to open it. Amy shared "I believe it was the only birthday present she has ever received."  Carrying the picture of Liza on my back with her holding her present, I kept thinking about her, her life. It motivated me to just keep pushing through.

Liza and her gift

I plodded along and at mile 20 I caught up to Andy Lepper, whom had emailed me awhile back, and whom I'd had the pleasure to meet at the pasta dinner. This was his first marathon and he was looking very worn down. He had taken the early start and I was really glad to have caught up with him. I told him I'd like to finish the last 6 with him, regardless of how long it took us.

Andy has a heart for children like I  do. His wife is from India and was raised in an orphanage. Together they have a non profit organization and operate several orphanages around the world. They have one in Haiti, Ghana and 2 in India. One of the women working at the Haiti orphanage is a hardcore runner and decided to host a marathon this coming January in Haiti to raise funds for children in all 4 orphanages.  Andy decided to make a huge change in his life and train for it. At 270 pounds, it was difficult, but after 5 months of training and dropping 30 pounds, he was ready to run the Potomac River Marathon in preparation for the Haiti marathon.

Peaceful and serene

We did a run/walk at times, but for the most part we walked, talking about our love for orphans, the work he is trying to do, and what I hope to accomplish through this year. It meant a great deal to me to have that opportunity to finish with him and I didn't care what time the course clock read, I wanted to help him push through the last few miles. He told me he's supported hundreds of orphans for 13 years and training for this marathon is by far the hardest thing he'd ever done. It was inspiring and encouraging to me beyond words. I urge you to check out his site Lovoso and see how you can get involved in helping the orphans he works to support.

Mile 25 - Oh yes we will!

I knew how much this race meant to him, how much he had to push through to finish it. It made me forget my pain, and having the company of a like minded soul made those last miles worth all the sweat and heat.  Around mile 24 we passed a patch of dandelion flowers (the ones with all the seeds) and I picked two, giving one to Andy. I told him to make a wish and then we both blew our flowers, scattering the seeds to the wind. We finished almost dead last, but it was awesome to see Andy finish his first (of what I believe will be many) marathons.  Six hours after starting I crossed the finish line; it was worth every minute out there.

Dandelion wishes and dreams come true - Andy at the finish!

"No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted."  - Aesop