Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Mamas, Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be...

I owe you a story that I told you I would tell a week ago. Didn't happen. The story is about a marathon, my first marathon in fact. 

But before I delve into the fascinating deets, let me tell you about a new little non-link-up, link-up that I'm doing on Wednesdays called Whatever Wednesdays.

WW

To spritz us with a little May spirit, Shay and Alissa came up with the idea to have a topic every Wednesday sent out by email a few days before, which we all would then blog about. 
No link-ups. Just writing. Easy peasy!

Today's topic: firsts.

Be cool and join in by emailing whateverwednesdays@yahoo.com. And if you're already in the pack, make sure to leave a comment below so I can come over and have a looksy!

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When people ask if I ran a marathon, I become a shifty little critter, since I can't truly do that term justice. I make it clear that I completed a marathon, and while I ran the vast majority of the way, my pace might not actually fit the running category. To prove my point, I tell this little tale...

Marathons bring interesting people. Lots of runners (obviously), some walkers and some people who like to be noticed, like those dressed as the Village People or juggling balls while they run. At the beginning of my race, in the midst of thousands of people, I passed one such person, a juggler, and jovially told my friend that at least we could beat him. I mean, please. He's juggling. We merrily trotted away, one foot in front of the other.

Until it truly became one foot in front of the other. For miles. I'm talking, I hit the wall at 17 miles and never got out. Those bricks were smacking me in the face, my feet were cement, and my mind was just screaming. I hated life, I hated the world, I hated every. single. choice I had made that got me there. And I really, super hated the fact that I had 9 miles to go. So one foot in front of the other it was for what was truly an excruciating distance.

When I heard that hope was right around the corner, a fire lit inside me and I ran. I truly ran, sprinting as hard as my legs could pump at this point. Around the bend I went, the curve that just never seemed to end, until I ended up in a tunnel that clearly was not the finish line. And I saw up ahead the 26 mile marker, meaning I had about a quarter mile left, or what I believed I had left about half a mile ago. Slowing, my lungs started screaming for oxygen, and that dang sports induced asthma that I so rarely got jumped on board my train.

So there I was, fighting to breathe, walking for the first time in miles, seriously contemplating sitting down with about .2 miles to go because I just couldn't fight the frustration and tears. Mind over matter though friends, mind over matter. That's what gets you through those last 6 miles. And as my mind took control and I went back to trudging my slug of a body to the finish line, a voice rang out on the loud speaker: "And here he is now! The juggling man!!!"

He beat me. The man juggled, JUGGLED, the entire 26.2 miles while RUNNING, and he beat me. And to pour salt in that danged wound, he made sure to beat me by just enough that I would hear it announced. Bastard. That's all I have to say to you juggling man. You're a mean, mean man. And don't you be thinkin' my tears at the end were 'cause you beat me. No sir! I just had a bug in my eye. (And pained toenails and knees and lungs and cells.)

So friends. My message to you in all of this is please, for the good of mankind and the hearts of us slower-paced folk, do not let your kids grow up to be juggling runners.


LIVE THE MURRAYED LIFE

25 comments:

  1. Yay!!! So glad you are taking part in Whatever Wednesdays, too! Your comment was so sweet and I'm loving your blog! :) How great that you are a runner, this is something I have never been, but somehow half of my good friends all do marathons regularly...I'm so in awe of each of you! I can only imagine the people you meet, like jugglers, oh my! Thanks for sharing!!! Looking forward to your post next week! :)

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  2. You are amazing for even entering the race and finishing at any speed! My best friend has run a marathon or two and I am amazed at the willpower it takes to be in those races- I feel like it's as much mental as it is physical.

    The juggling man- I am going to laugh about this all day. This "Whatever Wednesday" is such a great idea :)

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  3. First I can't even imagine participating in a 26 mile anything.. not even crawling.. Second how di hell do you run and juggle at the same time??? Mad props to that dude.

    And lastly YOU are amazing for finishing...

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  4. Christina! Congratulations for participating and FINISHING! Just last weekend, my husband joined the WIPRO Marathon in San Francisco and did the 2nd half. A half is already so taxing but exciting, I truly applaud your determination and effort. So great!

    I, too, saw a juggling runner! I was shocked to see how good he was too! Do running jugglers perhaps have their own community something similar to Gob's Alliance of Magicians?

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  5. Well done for entering and finishing, I can't imagine ever being able to do a marathon so anyone who can deserves lots of praise in my book, regardless of what time they completed in.

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  6. The juggling guy says it all. Love it.

    How can I find the other Whatever Wednesday posts? If you'll let me play along, here is a less strenuous but no less momentous first for me that kept two cranky kids from arguing.

    http://www.flotsamofthemind.com/2013/05/popcorn-reading-party.html

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  7. That juggler is such a show off...as are most jugglers. Psh!

    But seriously, props to you for completing a marathon! I did a half marathon, but didn't strength train, which hurt my knee, so I hobbled from mile 3 to mile 13.1. There were no jugglers, thankfully, but there was a man in his driveway hosing off any runners that wanted a good hosing off (it was a hot, sunny morning, but my younger brother thinks the guy had a different agenda).

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  9. Oh Christina, as if I needed an excuse... I would think you were an amazing person even if we weren't married! :) You prove it every day.

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  10. First, Yay! You finished a marathon! Second, I know how you feel, kinda. I only do 5ks but it really pisses me off when people wearing flip flops pass me. I secretly wish for a rock to wedge itself in the shoe... :)

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  11. Definitely going to sign up for the Wednesday posts! And I totally admire you for running anything more than a mile. I am NOT a runner.

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  12. oh wow!! i could barely do a 5k, let alone a full marathon!! kudos to you!! and a juggler while running....maybe he stopped a couple of times and took short cuts? hahah

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  13. I'm so impressed that you've run a marathon! That's an incredible feat!

    But man oh man, a juggling runner? Jeesh.

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  14. Haha, this post made me laugh! A marathon is intense, I'll maybe do a half. We'll see. I was just thinking today how Wednesdays need prompts, in fact I posted about that very thing.
    New Reader :) Gorgeous family!
    XO
    http://acupofhopee.blogspot.com/

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  15. Jugglers at a marathon, who would have guessed that? Seriously I'm just impressed by anyone who attempts a marathon. Even the last person who crosses the finish line gets my respect. I'm not a runner by any means. So congrats on completing a marathon.

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  16. Jugglers in general I think are attention grabbing jerks so he probably has been tripped a few times since then! ;)

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  17. NNNNoooo!! Haha. This post made me laugh out loud..and I felt your pain a little. lol. I have never run a marathon, but I have run several half-marathons and I can only imagine what miles 17 felt like!! You should have tripped the juggler. lol. kidding!

    I once had guy who jump roped a half stay with me for the first 5 miles..it was seriously annoying. lol

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  18. Wahhhh?! A MARATHON? Get it girl. I think that me completing a marathon would definitely be in a gun-to-my-head scenario... you did this willingly and lived to tell the tale... You rock! And the juggler? Shame on him and his mind blowing hand-eye coordination.

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  19. Bahahahaha! This is the greatest story ever. I love it! Dude, running a freaking marathon is HARD. I did it years ago and thought I was going to die. I definitely got smoked by little old ladies and wanted to cry at one point. Sucks! You should be SO proud of yourself for just completing it. Although, like you, I'd be pretty pissed about the juggler.

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  20. ooh Whatever Wednesdays sound fun--sign me up!

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  21. But you did it! Amazing! Also-sorry, but this story made me laugh out loud!!

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  22. Oh my gosh! hahahaha. That sucks so bad. But you DID run a marathon. I don't care what you say about it. I'm planning on doing the Wednesday linkup. Although I missed the first two. Next week! I've gotta stop leaving the state for vacation :)

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  23. Ha ha, I don't understand those people doing a marathon in some weird outfit, or juggling! You should be proud of yourself for doing a marathon, no matter how long it took x

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