Trudging along at a near-snail pace at the Marine Corps Marathon on Sunday, I saw this sign along the 26.2 mile course. Whoever wrote that sign certainly meant it for a different Ann, but heck! I claimed it as my own, smiled, and continued to trudge along with slightly renewed vigor.
That’s the great thing about running the Marine Corps Marathon. Inspiration, motivation and encouragement surround you every step of the way. I can complain about my age, painful leg, and abbreviated training this year, but why would I do that when I’m running next to a soldier wearing a prosthetic leg? Nothing abbreviates a runner’s training more than an IED explosion. And nothing humbles me more than to see the men and women who sacrifice a lot more than sore muscles and a few long runs to get to the starting line.
This was my 18th marathon and one of my favorites. Here are my most memorable, gratifying and touching moments from the 2015 Marine Corps Marathon:
Stairs and More Stairs
When my husband and I checked into the hotel on Friday night, we were excited because we thought for a moment that for the first time, we would actually have a ground floor room for the weekend. What makes this significant is that after running 26 miles, going up or down stairs is an immeasurable agony. Our hopes were dashed when we realized that not only was our room on the second floor of the building, but our loft-like bedroom was up another flight of 14 stairs! (Yes, I counted them.) Although I had envisioned myself crawling up and down on my hands and knees after the marathon, I’m happy to report that I was able to conquer the stairs upright with wall and banister support, plus only a modest amount of groaning.
Wegmans Pea-People
Immediately after picking up my race packet at the Convention Center on Saturday, I got my picture taken with 3 life-sized vegetable-people from Wegmans Market. Talk about friendly, high energy! They were so enthusiastic and happy, I wanted to hug them, but since there’s no un-weird way to hug a pea-person in public, I just told them I’d mention them in my blog. I’m so bummed that the photo didn’t turn out. But hey, Wegman’s Pea-People! You were great! Thanks for the smiles!
The Blue Mile
At the halfway point of the marathon, runners encountered the Blue Mile, sponsored by a nonprofit organization called Wear Blue: Run to Remember, which honors the service and sacrifice of the American military. For a long stretch, runner first see posters with photos of fallen soldiers on both sides of the course, followed by volunteers who hold American flags, each draped with a black ribbon bearing the name of one of the fallen.
It was gut-wrenching. I could barely look at the photos because every fallen man and woman looked so young, beautiful and full of life. It broke my heart and by the time I got to the flags, tears streamed down my face and I stifled sobs as I reached my hand out to high-five the flag-waving volunteers.
For me, the Blue Mile was the heart and soul of the 2015 Marine Corps Marathon. It captured the spirit of love, honor and sacrifice. It made me appreciate every Marine who has ever handed me a cup of water, shook my hand, and placed a medal around my neck.
Thank you, Wear Blue. I won’t forget.
***
To make a donation, please visit the Wear Blue: Run to Remember website.
10 Comments
I know what you mean. I ran the Marine Corps Marathon once (2002) followed by NYC, Chicago and Country Music in Nashville. I trained harder for each one and each one culminated with sheer emotion — sobs both for accomplishing another goal and for challenging myself beyond belief!
Last year, I hoped to run the Marine Corps Marathon one more time. Years of wear and tear with various injuries coupled with unexpected life events — forced me to decide otherwise. I ‘resigned myself’ to Volunteering on the #BlueMile (after all, I belonged to “Wear Blue: Run to Remember”). My fear – I would be bored with a commitment preventing me from doing something fun! By the time the MCM 2014 was over, I don’t think I had hugged more strangers, held more strangers up, high-fived more strangers, or cried more tears than on that day! The sense of accomplishment completing a marathon brings, could not begin to compare with the deep emotion and pride I felt – from my Blue Mile experience. There is joy in both, but the impact of the Blue Mile, was significant!
I have willingly volunteered for 3 more Blue Miles since the 2014 MCM and look forward to it more each time. I was honored to help install the posters for the MCM this year. I am grateful to be able to say that ‘right word’ or give that ‘High – Five’ or share that hug; I am privileged to be on the side of the road, bearing a flag with a name banner that represents someone who gave their life so that I may continue to live mine in freedom!
This year I signed up to hold the flag for one of our ‘honored Gold Star families’!! If I never run another marathon in my life — that’s OK!!! As long as I have a breath left in me — I will stand on that #BlueMile with Pride and Joy! I will do whatever it takes to encourage a runner to finish – I will cheer, I will applaud, I will admire, I will yell, I will run brief distances just to keep them going, I will “High – Five”, I will hug! I will run when I can and walk when I must — #ForTheFallen, #ForTheFighting, #ForTheFamilies …. But most of all — I will “Wear Blue: and Run To Remember”!
If you ever run another Marathon (at least in the DC area) and you notice there is a #BlueMile — stop a moment for a hug — I will be #TheLastFlagOnTheLeft!!!
I know what you mean. I ran the Marine Corps Marathon once (2002) followed by NYC, Chicago and Country Music in Nashville. I trained harder for each one and each one culminated with sheer emotion — sobs both for accomplishing another goal and for challenging myself beyond belief!
Last year, I hoped to run the Marine Corps Marathon one more time. Years of wear and tear with various injuries coupled with unexpected life events — forced me to decide otherwise. I ‘resigned myself’ to Volunteering on the #BlueMile (after all, I belonged to “Wear Blue: Run to Remember”). My fear – I would be bored with a commitment preventing me from doing something fun! By the time the MCM 2014 was over, I don’t think I had hugged more strangers, held more strangers up, high-fived more strangers, or cried more tears than on that day! The sense of accomplishment completing a marathon brings, could not begin to compare with the deep emotion and pride I felt – from my Blue Mile experience. There is joy in both, but the impact of the Blue Mile, was significant!
I have willingly volunteered for 3 more Blue Miles since the 2014 MCM and look forward to it more each time. I was honored to help install the posters for the MCM this year. I am grateful to be able to say that ‘right word’ or give that ‘High – Five’ or share that hug; I am privileged to be on the side of the road, bearing a flag with a name banner that represents someone who gave their life so that I may continue to live mine in freedom!
This year I signed up to hold the flag for one of our ‘honored Gold Star families’!! If I never run another marathon in my life — that’s OK!!! As long as I have a breath left in me — I will stand on that #BlueMile with Pride and Joy! I will do whatever it takes to encourage a runner to finish – I will cheer, I will applaud, I will admire, I will yell, I will run brief distances just to keep them going, I will “High – Five”, I will hug! I will run when I can and walk when I must — #ForTheFallen, #ForTheFighting, #ForTheFamilies …. But most of all — I will “Wear Blue: and Run To Remember”!
If you ever run another Marathon (at least in the DC area) and you notice there is a #BlueMile — stop a moment for a hug — I will be #TheLastFlagOnTheLeft!!!
Colleen, I am genuinely touched by your comment on my post. You are wonderful and amazing, and I’m so glad you have devoted yourself to support the Blue Mile. I am sending you a gigantic “virtual hug” and I promise I will look for the LastFlagOnTheLeft at next year’ Marine Corps Marathon! XO Ann
The Blue Mile had Malinda in tears & made every remaining mile more meaningful!
The Blue Mile had Malinda in tears & made every remaining mile more meaningful!
@twinsrun I don’t know how anyone can see those posters of the fallen without being profoundly moved. Thank you for your comment.
Ann, this blog sounds just like you – beautifully written and full of emotion. I am so glad you were able to run this marathon.
Ann, this blog sounds just like you – beautifully written and full of emotion. I am so glad you were able to run this marathon.