Coaching and an Amazing Team Make All the Difference

“Athletes need to enjoy their training. They don't enjoy going down to the track with a coach making them do repetitions until they're exhausted. From enjoyment comes the will to win.” 
― Arthur Lydiard

I never aspired to run a marathon, and that is entirely because I never believed I could do it.  Yet, here I am, five weeks away from running the 118th Boston Marathon, and possibly the most emotional running of the race in history.  The last few years of my life have put me in a place in which I refuse to take a single minute, not one single second, for granted.  I am sitting here feeling braver than I have ever felt, and reaching for goals I've forever thought were beyond my reach.  The Boston Marathon may be the loftiest of those goals, and I am well on my way because of the support I've gotten from those who are sharing in my journey.

Every Saturday, my team heads into Boston to complete a long training run along the course together, and there's a core group of us who are there most weeks, and we stick together for the most part.  Initially, my plan was to make the trip into the city every other week, but after running with them that first day, I knew running alone just wouldn't cut it, and I've gone in almost every Saturday morning since then.

• We are all inspired by Lisa, who's running her first marathon after battling a number of health issues, including hip replacements.  She always kind of jokes about running slowly, but I hope she realizes how absolutely amazing she truly is to those around her.  
• I've really enjoyed getting to know Erin, who reminds me a lot of myself with her determined, hard-working personality.  I've learned so much more about GHF and her other foundations on our runs, and we had a conversation about my own career last week that really got me thinking.    She's one of those people who can get anyone taking, even someone as quiet as I can be.
• I was shocked when I found out how young Adam was, not that he looks old, but because he is a kid with such a sense of focus and a sincere desire to make a difference in the community.  When I hear stories about him literally going from hospital to hospital after last year's marathon, searching for people to help, I am not at all surprised.  
• Ashley is just a flipping riot.  I don't know how many times she's gotten her headphones caught on someone or something, and every single run she is yelling at runners to "Crush it"!  She is just full of fun and energy and high-fives, and she makes me feel way younger than I am, just being around her.
• It's an honor to run with Kevin who, along with his parents, is a marathon bombing survivor.  He'll tell you himself that he's not a runner, but after his experiences last year, he was compelled to run and raise money for GHF, who was supportive of them when they needed it most.  He's just started a blog of his own, and I think there's a lot there to get out...enough for a book, in my opinion.  Check it out: Footsteps

Our team is lucky enough to be a part of the Marathon Coalition, and I cannot say enough about what a great experience coach Rick Muir has created.  Every week, before we go out on our runs, we spend some time together, usually over 100 of us.  After we get to hear from one of the charities about their mission, Rick gives us a pep talk.  There's always a little humor, which helps settles my nerves, and he often talks about nutrition.  The nutrition piece has been huge for me, never having training with this intensity before.  There's a kindness to Rick that resonates from the time you meet him.  I'll never forget my time in with the team, and he greeted me by name as soon as I walked in.  I honestly don't even know how he knew it was me, but I was immediately at ease.  He always talk about how much he admires us all, running for charity, and he is so sincere.  I'm sure I'm not the only one who feels a sense of comfort when I see him up ahead at a water stop, checking in and making sure we are all doing okay.  My journey has been a phenomenal one, and Rick is a big part of that.  He created this coalition to make a difference, and he has succeeded.  

The Marathon Coalition before a chilly run in Boston

I can't wait to get to the finish line.  It'll be life-changing.  But I sure am going to miss these people.