You Rise And Become Friends — THAT PRETTY RUNNER

My First MDI Marathon Back When I Was Twenty…

Now, here in the picture I am 18 miles into my full marathon. The St.Jude announcer of the official cheer station in the MDI MARATHON AND OTHER SANCTIONED EVENTS, thought that I was three miles into my half-marathon. While I needed to talk to my parents about giving me pants and water, he thought I was still on fresh legs. I am going to say it, he yelled at me to keep running and not stop to talk to my parents or smell the roses.

There was a serious conversation about his demeanor, and I suppose whilst in Long Island on a business trip with ‘Miranda Priestly’, I met his good friend (just like the movie). This good friend knew about the race, and did not understand why yelling at me, not to stop for a break with mom and dad 18 miles into a marathon was not okay at all. It was quite the occasion, that made me feel unsatisfied with just my cool aunt giving my allowance to the charity I run a marathon for that year. After being back and forth about what is right and wrong, that announcer learned not to yell anything other than encouraging words to the marathon runners; especially with a microphone! With a heavy heart, we all became friends. You rise above animosity, and look at the big picture in life. You can be friends with all sorts of people in the marathon running world.

Sometimes, I wish my old Olympic weightlifting cross-country coach had been there to cheer me on at that very cheer station, but it is ok that they did not make it to my race; wearing a fur hat with a walking stick. Oscar, would have really enjoyed seeing me earn that singlet and water bottle, one time he met my cool aunt at one of my cross-country invitationals she finally had the chance to watch me run in.

My second time around running MDI was even better, because of that announcer and his friend in Long Island, knowing I was running well ahead of time. Very positive experience to grow through together as friends in the running world circle. I am sure, you all know who I mean.

I made bracelets like these, with St.Jude medals from my church, to make the fundraiser more than just friends and family writing checks. I gave everyone who donated to my online fundraiser, or sent a check, or did anything to support my marathon running and fundraising efforts a bracelet. Sentimental objects and fundraising go together sometimes, all my donors had something to take away from my race weekend other than my race pictures. These bracelets were a real hit at church on Sunday, because of the medal. I even had my uncle whom is a Shriner, donate to St.Jude, shhh don’t tell anyone!

See the medal! I’m not just good at running, I can be crafty too!

I received this baby, after last years MDI Marathon.