Phillyfit is an awesome group of people. The truly amazing thing is that each season we start out with a mix of new and returning and by the end we have all discovered new friends and training partners. A group of (mostly) introverts has formed friendships that will last a lifetime. Most of us will admit that we have shared things with our distance running and walking parnters that we never thought we'd share with anyone let alone someone we've only known for such a short time. It really IS cheaper than therapy.
Just being part of each other's lives (on and off the trails) makes a huge difference to most of us. Phillyfit Spirit awards recognize actions and words over and above the call of friendship. These are actions that pulled someone else out of a slump or past the wall. On marathon day 2011 I was made aware or witnessed several such acts.
*I heard one fitter bolstering another who wanted to quit after mile 4.
*I saw coaches and non coaches running people in the last half mile AFTER finishing their own races.
*I know that one fitter who ran 50 miles the day before came out and stood for hours along the course cheering fellow Fitters on.
*I know one coach who waited for his full marathoner - a walker - so he could personally put a medal around her neck.
All great examples of Phillyfit Spirit. The award for the day however goes to SHERRY CANNAN. Here is the story as was told to me via email:
Just wanted to let you know when the corrals were starting I jumped in the purple corral and found Sherry. She happily ran the first couple of miles with me. Then, when I was heading outbound to Manayunk on Kelly Drive, she was inbound already and asked if I needed a partner. I wanted to say yes, but didn't want to mess up her time and didn't want her to run back to Manayunk. I just said maybe the last 3 miles? And she said OK with a smile!
The last 7 miles I hit a wall....I walked a little and then ran a little. My right knee, right ankle, and top of my left foot was in pain. And mentally, it was hard....there were few people on the road and I felt like the little engine that couldn't! When I was at mile 24ish I saw Sherry walking back towards me. When we reached each other I thought she finished and walked back and she didn't! I was so happy she walked back, but felt bad she didn't cross the finish, but she said she was totally fine. She even offered me her knee brace! I declined b/c I was afraid my leg would feel weird while running in it.
I was already extremely nervous at the start and started to lose hope until I saw Sherry!
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