It’s been a few days since the Boston Marathon and I want to share my experience with you. 

As many of you know I planned on running the marathon this year.  I committed to running it last April in one of my Co-Active coaching classes (Balance).  I knew that I did not “qualify” to run in Boston or anywhere for that matter so I would need to run with a charity.  I applied and was accepted to run with The Dana Farber Cancer Institute.   I began training over the summer and ran the Falmouth road race, it was my first group run experience.  I enjoyed the run and realized I really could run the marathon. 

In December I got hurt, I pushed through it and continued running. By the end of January I knew I had a problem and went to the doctor.  I had to give up running for 2 weeks, doing nothing.  Then I saw another doctor and couldn’t run for another 6 weeks.  I could at that point train on the elliptical, bike and I could walk.  I did all faithfully, working my way up to over 3 hours on the elliptical.  I fully expected to be able to run but in mid March the doctor said absolutely not. 

 After many tears and much sadness, I pulled it together and remembered that more important than my running was raising money for Dana-Farber Cancer research.   Although my personal goal of running the marathon ended, I still continue to fund raise. 

I spent Monday at the Boston Marriot Copley as a volunteer for the Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge.  I was checking in runners so their families would know they finished the marathon and arrived at the recovery zone.  Each runner could change, eat and get a massage as well as any medical attention that they needed.  Watching their families light up with excitement when they arrived was inspiring, but watching wives, husbands, parents, children and friends greet their marathoner was beyond inspiring!  Knowing that each runner achieved their dream is wonderful and still brings a smile to my face as well as tears to my eyes. 

Often times life throws us a curve ball, it is how we handle these curve balls that help create our lives.  Instead of being upset and angry that I am injured and couldn’t run, I am thrilled that I had the opportunity to share in the joy of others that were able to run. 

It is like weight loss, it doesn’t have to be an obstacle in our way, just a curve ball that we have to find a new way to hit. 

This is life, swing away, there is always another ball to hit or another mile to go.