Marathon

 

About 25 years ago I ran a marathon. It was on my bucket list and after we moved to Houston with our new baby girl in 1999, I decided it was time to check it off my list. I trained for about 5 months and my only goal was to finish and run the whole time.

During the marathon, there were cheerleaders along the way – strangers and family met me at different mile points and gave me lots of encouragement. Hydration and refueling stations were strategically placed on the course and even a beer station at mile 21.

There were also small stretches that felt really long when I ran alone. I couldn’t see anyone in front of me nor behind me. I finished in just over 5 hours and when I crossed the finish line I felt relief, pride, joy and weakness. I was dehydrated and hungry but I couldn’t eat with feeling so sick.

I’ve been a parent for almost 26 years now. It has felt much like that marathon…lots of cheerleaders, hydrating and refueling stations, and even some beer stops along the way. There have been times I felt very alone and times when I didn’t feel like I had enough…enough love, energy, resources, care, hope.

There’s no finish line in sight. But I am still moving forward and I am not alone. Where are you in this race?