I am Roy Attitude of Gratitude as my race day shirt says except for the Roy. November 22, 2009 was the culmination of over six months of training with USA Fit/Philly to finish a marathon. For me the day featured being with friends and being alone. I have never felt such joy and ecstasy along with intense pain. It was a time of the greatest self confidence I had ever known along with moments of something I rarely feel insecurity and self doubt.
The group USA Fit/Philly is comprised of women and men from all walks of life united in training together to do a marathon or half marathon. We do group training run/walks each Saturday morning. I am a race walker. Our group is very enthusiastic and supportive. You feel like you are part of a team. During the week you have training schedule which is very light. You train like a football player in that you keep up during the week for one big day on the week end.
All of us Philly Fit friends met at the Rocky statue by the Art Museum an hour before race time. For me it was very uplifting as I was out for the final 3 weeks with a toe injury. The welcome back truly touched me.
My buddies helped me several times during the race. The race did not start out well for me. I was among faster runners and felt like I was too slow to be in the race (I actually have passed a few runners in races but only when I am in the back). The cold made me shiver and my injured toe did not feel right with the cold. But a couple cheers from teammates as well as supporters from American Cancer Society DetermiNation got me over the hump of the first mile or so. Just before perhaps the biggest hill around mile 10 Brian and I shared some great conversation as well as using the makeshift bathroom on the side of the road. Helen and Mary saw us and jokingly said they would report our numbers. It was just what I needed to prepare myself for the hill that threatened my toe just coming off an injury.
At mile 17 I hit the wall the same time I had a stone in my shoes. But before I was able to get upset, Helen and Mary appeared to give me a much needed high five. From mile 17 to 25+ I was struggling. The route got quiet with both fans and participants. I was in pain and just wishing the race would end already. During this time I found out just how much I wanted to be a marathoner. Giving up was never an option. When you have nothing left in the tank so to speak, you see what you are made of. At mile 25+ there was Paula and her husband Dave. Paula told me I was awesome and we went arm and arm for a few feet. Paula would later tell me I looked great considering how far I had gone. I started to enjoy the final mile or so. As my name suggests I said a Prayer of Gratitude in the final couple hundred feet or so.
As I look back on this amazing day I remember how I felt defeat coming upon me in the first mile and the last nine or so miles at the end. What I will take away is that although I finished behind nearly everyone, the only thing that matters is that I did a marathon. The reaction from people I tell of finishing a marathon is that I am a champion.
Concluding with what my name means to me, tears flowed that day more than any day since I was a child. Sitting in my car listening to Rocky before the race I broke down and sobbed like a baby. I was so grateful that I was about to do a marathon. That night I again cried like a baby in profound gratitude for having done a marathon. USA Fit/Philly prepared me, brought me to the starting point, and was there for me all the way. Join us and become all you ever dreamed you would become and more.
Roy Attitude of Gratitude
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