When, a few months ago, I decided to design and run my own marathon I had no idea of the joy it would bring to me and my community. I just needed a challenge to keep me motivated through the pandemic and to prevent me from turning into a couch potato with 50 extra Covid pounds.
In April I started running. Mostly up and down trails. Days would go by without my doing anything productive so at 4 pm I’d strap on my runners and head for the hills. At least, I thought, I could say I did some exercise today.
Four mile loops in Hopkins Forest stretched to 5 and then 6. When I was too lazy to get in the car to drive to the Forest I ran there and back and also ran the 4-mile forest loop. A Taconic Ridge 10-mile route was attempted and that stretched into 12, 14 and 16 milers that spanned from Vermont to Massachusetts to New York. Quick weekday runs were soon 8-mile jaunts up the steep meadow at Clark Art. Without much forethought I started perusing online marathon training plans and printed one.
My birthday was coming. I was turning 60. It was the end of 2020. We couldn’t party. Ok. Birthday marathon it is.
To commit myself to this thing, I made a facebook post and went public. I added a little fundraiser.
I asked Nicole Armbrust of jumpstart running to coach me through the last few weeks. She got my glutes fired up.
A few friends asked how they could help on the day-of but I really didn’t want to impose on anyone, so I suggested that they just do what amused them. I really was not expecting the full court press that greeted me on marathon day!
For my birthday present, I had asked my husband to take a few videos and arrange for coffee at the end of the run. I thought I’d be back in 4h 20min if all went well. I asked my coach if I could borrow a starter thing. She offered to come by to officiate. My yoga teacher friend designed our last yoga session before the run around my need to stretch my hamstrings and glutes. My daughter designed and painted the awesome finish line sign with me. Homemade energy bars showed up on my doorstep.
THE DAY
At least 10 people were at the starting line/driveway at 8 am armed with hand-drawn posters and thankfully distracting me before the starting horn blared. A seasoned runner wisely reminded me to turn on my Garmin watch (which tracks my miles). One of the Boys of Dawn (my 6:15 am running pals, many of whom have been running together for 35 years) tagged along with me for the first 2.5 miles. One mile in, another friend had set his alarm clock so he would be ready to jump up and down on the side of the road as I passed by. Two miles in, there was another ‘fan’ and then another and another. I don’t think I went more than 3 miles on my own that day.
On the wide-open lightly trafficked stretch of Oblong Road friends lined up in their cars to drive along side of me to chat and wish me well and offer snacks and hot water. Way out on Route 43, around mile 10, a runner accompanied me up a long hill. On the long return down a lonely section of Route 43, a hand appeared with a tupperware container filled with the best orange slices I’ve ever tasted. Near the Hancock line, a gaggle of noise makers and music and signs powered me on. When my enthusiasm was faltering near the finish line, first Nicole, then 2 other pals, joined me on the road. More and more people were on the sidelines. A couple of crazies were standing in the middle of the highway I needed to cross just before the finish line stopping the traffic!
A dear friend hired our local print shop to make me a really cool medal for my ‘first-place’ finish.
THE OUTCOME
In a year, with not much to look forward to this little one-person marathon spontaneously turned into a community event, reminding us all of the joy of working together, celebrating each other, and spending time with our neighbors.
More than one person told me it was their ‘most fun day of 2020’. Admittedly, the bar on that one was low.
“Your husband is setting the standard for supportive spouses!” - he was the videographer, event coordinator, pace consultant, caterer and general manager of logistics.
“I loved the way you invited the community to be a part of your run and I thought it served as a moment of hope as we wrapped up a bizarre year. It was a pleasure to be a part of it.”
“Some of us needed this as much as you. We just didn’t know that until you made it happen.”
Whatever 2021 brings us, I’m going to be thinking of this day and all the awesome people! I’m heading into the new year with all kinds of good feels and inspiration to be part of something big and powerful and positive.
We got this!
Thanks to all the donors, cheerers, sign makers, traffic stoppers, noise makers, well-wishers: Abbie H, Ali B, Alix C, Amy J, Andrew A, Ann C, Anne G, Anne M, Anne M, Anne O, Barbara C, Betsy K, Bern W, Bill L, Bridget S, Calvin S, Cameron B, Catherine M, Childsy A, Clare B, Claudine F, Dawn E, David D, David P, David R, Dinny T, Elinor G, Eric W, Erin E, Gail S, Ghetta H, Henry A, Ingrid V, Isabelle H, Jane H, Janette K, Janine H, Jeanne M, Jess D, Jim B, Joanna G, Johnathan S, Judith M, Julia B, Katherine M, Karen B, Karen C, Kari R, Kaye S, Keith M, Lara S-S, Lauren G, Laura C, Lisa CM, Lois C, Louise D, Lydia B, Marita O, Martha W, MaryBeth G, Miranda B, Nancy M, Nancy N, Nicole A, Noah S, Orion H, Oscar, Pam A, Rebeccah K, Robin D, Sandra T, Shanti, Sylvain L, Susan A, Susan O, Susan P, Teri B, Tim C, Tina F, Todd R, Zeta LB, Zoe D plus more.
The Marathon Route
Distance: 26.21 miles
Time: 3:55:08