Rehoboth Beach Seashore Marathon....for Phendula

After my extra long weekend in Vegas I brought home not only a Santa costume and a completed tattoo, but one nasty cold. I suppose the very fact that I have only been sick twice this entire year is amazing, but the entire week I was under the weather. And to add injury to insult, quite literally, I could tell that my right leg was jacked up.

I spent those 6 days trying to get over the cold and resting my leg. For the first time in months and months I took the whole week off from exercising. I didn't run, I didn't lift weights. It was six days of complete rest, minus whatever energy it took to bake holiday cookies. And I really struggled with taking the week off, even though I knew it was necessary.

As I got ready to leave for Rehoboth, DE on Friday afternoon, I was filled with doubt. Those six days of rest hadn't seemed to make a dent with either my cold or leg. I was still as congested as ever, and going through box after box of tissues. Likewise, I could feel the tightness in my IT band every time I took a step. I knew this could get really ugly come Saturday.

 Our view

On the bright side, I was looking forward to seeing my friend Becky. I stayed with her at her sister's place that evening and got to catch up. Becky had run the 1/2 Sauer 1/2 Kraut Marathon with me back in June. It was disgustingly hot that day, and to date, the highest temps I've ever ran a marathon in. This time, in total contrast, we were looking at running a very cold race on Saturday morning.

 Breath taking colors!

I came prepared for the cold. I had my new Lululemon long sleeve top under my jacket to keep me cozy! Bundled head to toe, we got to the start area and enjoyed the most beautiful sunrise over the water. All the little shops along the start/finish area were decorated with lights and wreathes, the cars  parked out front adorning running stickers of 13.1 and 26.2.

While not an overly popular time of year for marathons,  but this race had drawn a good number of runners for both the half and full. With a very flat, fast course and the scenic aspects of being near the water, it was easy to see why people would come out in the cold for this event.

Becky and I started out together. She was running the half and I was glad to get to run a few miles with her. I  neglected to take many photos those first few miles, I was more interested in just enjoying the company. Around 5 miles Becky took a walking break and I headed out by myself.  We split from the half marathon runners around 8 miles and at that point it became a very quiet road. I could always see someone in front of me, but for a good part of the race I felt like I was running alone. I don't mind running by myself, and at times even prefer it.

The scenery gave me lots to take it. I have run plenty of marathons along the water, but never one quite like this. Most people think about going to the beach for the summer, but it's an entirely different feel to see the beach in winter. My only experience running winter beach marathons has been in Florida.

The course gave us several changes, from running near the water, and through residential areas, to a lovely packed dirt/gravel trail and through Cape Henlopen State Park. Most of the race we stayed inland from the water, which helped protect us from the wind, and we still got some great views at different points along the way.

 "Lewes - First Town, First State"

Starting out I could feel it. Step one, and there was the nag in my right leg. Having had severe IT band issues earlier in the year with my left leg, I knew exactly what I was dealing it. I was hoping the rest would prevent me from having to go down that road of injury again. But this was not a good sign. I was mentally prepared for what this race could be like. I knew this was a day to take it a mile at a time, much in the way Phendula faces his life, one day at a time.

Phendula is the boy I was running for. He is 8-years old and lives in Ngqeleni District of South Africa. He looks very unhappy in this picture. Phendula is sick and while his mother is living, he shares his home with many other children that his mother is also trying to care for. He told 25:40 workers "My mother gets money for a few of the kids but there are a lot of us." There is a real struggle to provide enough food and clothing for all these children. What would you do if you only had enough food for a couple of your children, but not for all? That is the kind of situation this family faces on a regular basis. I struggle to get that picture out of my mind.

 Phendula

I came across this guy in the last few miles of the race. He had slowed down to walk, and the back of his shirt said "It's you vs. you." The picture didn't turn out, but reading his shirt really spoke to me. It was just all the more motivation I needed to keep on running.

Coming toward the finish line I pushed through the pain and gave it all I had left, crossing in 4:21. Immediately I was greeted with hugs from friends and I got to see a couple friends come in right behind me. Happy to be done and wanting to get out of the cold, I made my way into the food tent for their awesome post-race party.

 At mile 26!

My big complaint with a lot of marathons is the lack of food at the finish. I wish races would give you something more than just a bagel and a banana after you ran for hours. And boy Rehoboth did not disappoint on their spread of food! You could have pancakes with toppings or pulled pork sandwiches with beans and cheesy mac 'n' cheese. They even offered vegetarian burgers!

I had to cut the party short because I still had a long drive back and I knew my children were waiting for me to come home. I ate, showered and got on the road, but all the while I was struggling. It was amazing to finish marathon #51 of the year, and yet I felt like I was hobbling back to my car. I knew after the drive home my leg would be even more of a mess and already the stress of running my next marathon was setting in. Whatever happiness I had from the accomplishment of the day was overshadowed with anxiety.

The drive home gave me plenty of time to think about things. The injury issues I have dealt with during this year have been beyond difficult, frustrating and depressing. I remember moments when I had absolutely no faith that I would make it through this year. I didn't see how my body could manage to heal when having to take on 26.2 miles every 6-8 days or less. And yet here I am, at marathon #51, having run strong and feeling well the last several months. I drove down the highway thinking about everything, feeling frustrated and trying to drown out my thoughts with the Christmas music playing on the radio. It was then that I got a very straight forward reminder. The song "Joy to the World" started playing. It was one of those light bulb moments and I knew it was time to see past any pain or injuries.

I knew that this was not a time to wallow in whatever pain I was experiencing, but to find a reason for joy. So many times in our lives we are faced with adversity, things that break us, that leave us scared and empty. And the sad thing is that we are, in essence, robbed of the life we are supposed to have by those pains. I spent a lot of time depressed over my own injuries earlier this year, killing the positive. I failed to see any light at the end of the tunnel. I was so unhappy because things had failed to go the way I had thought they should. And in my own ignorance, forgot that maybe there was a reason for my pain, that maybe this was exactly the way it was supposed to be.

It's time for joy! And maybe what I am experiencing isn't just a reminder for me, but for you too. I know how difficult the holiday season can be for some people, how, for various reasons, it can be anything but the most wonderful time of year. Maybe it's because you've lost someone you love, maybe it's because there are not funds enough for the gifts you wanted to buy. Maybe it's because the things you wanted to happen in 2010 didn't, and you feel like another year has gone to waste. Don't let it! Find a reason for joy, if only just one. I really needed that reminder. It's funny how quickly we can lose sight of the big picture. Injured or not, I have more than enough reasons to find joy. And after realizing that, it was surprising how quickly my attitude shifted.

Now I know my little moment of joy isn't going to make the issue with my IT band go away. I'm sure this coming week is going be focused on recovery and marathon #52 may be a real struggle. But I'm at peace knowing that I'm not trying to make it fit into the context that I had pictured, but rather take the bad with the good and center my attention on the blessing of being able to run another marathon for the children of 25:40.

I hope you find your own moment of joy today, whatever it may be. 

"Joy is untouched by circumstance." - Unknown

Race Stats:
4:21:32 finishing time
375 out of 619 overall
92 out of 207 women
17 out of 24 for my age group (25-29)