When I first met David, he had just completed one of his many races, and this had me slightly concerned about our compatibility. After all, I only run while being chased, and even then I’m more inclined to duck into the bushes. Running for fun is a foreign concept for me, but over the past year, I have come to gain an appreciation for the art of running. I even bought a fancy pair of sneakers at a running expo. Wait, I meant that I bought a pair of athletic shoes. I’ve been informed that nobody calls them sneakers anymore. I might even get to test them out one day if I ever acquire a stalker or encounter a mean pit bull.
For the past four months, I have watched David train for his first marathon. He has suffered through knee injuries, deprived himself of his favorite foods, and experienced a weight loss that rivals Gandhi’s. He has set aside his favorite beverages for nutritional goo and odd-colored drinks with titles containing the powerful words and a plethora of promises. He has had a revolving door of strep throat at his house, and his concern for germs was at all time high. He had a training schedule to follow, and illness, cold weather, and a lack of motivation never stopped him. He set a personal goal and with a sense of dedication that I admire so much, he did everything that he could do to achieve it. I had no doubt that he would finish the grueling 26.2 miles. I just hoped that his knee would cooperate enough to allow him to get his big Flavor Flav medal.
As you can see, he succeed at the Tobacco Road Marathon today. His two boys were there to cheer him on, and during the last part of the race, they ran with David to the finish line with my son in tow as well.
On the shuttle bus back to my car, we were surrounded by racers who were physically exhausted but emotionally elated. The sense of relief was palpable. It was inspiring, and I have a new appreciation for those people with a “26.2″ magnet on the back of their car. I will no longer assume that they are a math teacher or perhaps a member of a secret numerical gang. Thanks to David, I now know that those people are ones who challenged themselves to be better, stronger, and more determined than ever. Congratulations, David. I’m so proud of you. Now take a rest, and eat some ice cream before your next adventure.
