I need your best stuff!
Please, whoever you are, from wherever you’re reading – send a little inspiration my way. Whether you’ve commented once, twice or never before, I’d love to read your finest, most fantastical encouragement, praise, and well wishes.
What would you like to hear the evening before your last law school final, in the middle of a difficult labor, or on the last mile of a marathon? If I’ve learned anything from this experience, it’s that we all have our own mountains to climb, adversities to overcome, and marathons to run. How we handle the tough stuff is what sets us apart.
That which has meant the most to me over the course (ha!) of this training, preparation, anxiety and joy has been the love.
· The love of Jayla and her family who made sure I was properly outfitted for the chilly, early morning runs with my Miles for Miracles team windbreaker and their limitless warm words.
· The love of my parents who made my first donation, listened to me fret about shin splints and knee pain and sweat-wicking gear, and promised that no matter what, they would be there for me at the finish line.
· The love of my sister, who will be pulling me home on Monday, literally and figuratively.
· The love of my brother, sister-in-law, and sweet niece, who’ve sent me buckets of support – from their home in CT and through the power of the blog.
· The love of my lovely Boston and New York City girlfriends, who have promised to show up on game day, intoxicated and bearing (potentially inappropriate) signs.
· The love of aunts, uncles and cousins, who have offered my support and advice of all kinds.
· The love of coworkers who always asked, “How many miles this weekend?” and truly cared about the answer.
· The love of my second family in Newtopia who have cheered on my every milestone and counted down the days ‘til Marathon Monday as if it were a second Christmas.
· The love of my coaches and teammates, whose mere presence has calmed me, and made me feel part of something amazing.
· The love of myself and the realization that much like overcoming 8 surgeries and a lifetime of medical difficulties, this is just another thing I KNOW I can do.
So, my question is this: next Monday, April 21st, on the 112th running of the historic Boston Marathon, can I take you with me?
Leave your most inspiring message in the comments section and I’ll put it on my Inspiration Card, shrink it down, laminate it, and put it in my “Break Spandex In Case of Emergency” pocket. Really.
Thanks in advance. I couldn’t have done it without you.
5 Comments
April 16, 2008 at 5:54 am
I’m reading your blog for months already and I’ve followed your preparation for the marathon.
I won’t be original with my encouragement, but I think today’s RW Quote of the Day is quite appropriate:
“The race is not always to the swift, but to those who keep on running.”
So Kerry, keep on running, no matter what!!
Good luck! I’m looking forward to your post-race report
April 16, 2008 at 7:36 am
One foot in front of the other. You said it yourself. It’s that simple … and that difficult. You can DO IT!!
April 16, 2008 at 8:27 am
We are family.. I got all my sisters and me…
Run, Kerry, Run
Love Keeks
April 17, 2008 at 10:41 am
I have never EVER believed that someone could do something so utterly amazing the way that I believe YOU CAN DO THIS! The race is the race k. All your training, your fundraising, your hard mental and physical work have prepared you for what lies ahead.
Run the first part with your head, the middle with your dynamic personality, and FINISH with your whole heart.
April 18, 2008 at 7:39 am
Good Luck Kerry. You are an amazing woman and should be so proud of yourself. You Go Girl.