Humbled

It has now been four months since I ran my marathon. Not the San Diego marathon, but my marathon. Emil Zatopek said that “We are different, in essence, from other [wo]men. If you want to win something, run 100 meters. If you want to experience something, run a marathon.” And what an experience I had! Running in that race was honestly one of the most inspiring things that I have ever done. I still get a little verklempt thinking about it. Give me a moment. Talk amongst yourselves. I'll give you a topic: A thigh master is neither a thigh nor a master. Discuss!
Okay, I'm better. So, since my last blog, 26 While 26, ended, a few things have happened in my life, as they tend to do. My toenail that fell off is growing back (I’ve been eating lots of roast beef). My right foot’s big toenail that went to the market got its butt kicked while fighting for the last free sample of a broccoli bagel bite at Costco and came home barely hanging on to life. It has been determined that the toenail is not going to make it and right now I’m just waiting for the day when it, too, falls off.

In July I disappeared for a weekend into the San Francisco fog where I visited with my dear friends, the Bells. Megan and I reminisced about the days when we ran together in the OC and we went for a run on a new trail—one that went from her apartment in the tony Russian Hill neighborhood to across the Golden Gate Bridge! She put Madison in the baby jogger and we ran for about 6-7 miles, through the city streets, Presidio, and finally across the very cold and very windy bridge. What an experience! When we got to the other side of the bridge, we called her husband to come pick us up (hey, one way was amazing enough; there was no need to flip it and reverse it back 6-7 miles!).

After my cool weekend in San Francisco, I jetted off to Casa Grande, AZ, to spend a weekend with my other dear friends, the La Salvias. And finally, finally, Katie and I got to go running together again! Katie is my longest running partner—I’ve been running with her since 8th grade! We woke up super early in the mornings to beat the suffocating desert heat. Katie, now it’s your turn to come out to CA and run with me by the ocean!!

In August my Mom, Grammy, and Great Aunt Nancy came to visit me. Since my Grammy is now 87 and my Aunt Nancy is almost 77, they weren’t really up for a long run. Instead, we did a lot of walking—in Balboa Park in San Diego, down the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and all around my condo complex. While we were in San Diego we went on a trolley tour of the city and I excitedly pointed out to my family (and everyone else within earshot) all the places I passed while running the marathon. “Look! That’s the hotel I stayed in! And this is where I lined up at the start line! And this is where I crossed the 10k mark! And this is where I saw that guy peeing on a tree! Oh, I ran down this road…and this one…oh! And this one too! Ah! And this is where I finished!!” So basically everyone on the trolley paid thirty bucks each to relive my marathon experience with me. Dang…now that I think about it, they should have paid me that money! I put on a good show!

August was full of birthdays: Sabina’s (30!), Kara’s (30!), Nicole D.’s (29!), Grammy’s (87!), Cameron’s (1!), and, ug…mine:-( It happened. I turned 27. I am still having a hard time adjusting to this new age. Yeah, yeah, 27 is not old. But the thing is, I feel like I’m 27 going on 45. You see, I’ve got an old soul. 26 was a good year—mostly in part to my marathon quest. I’m scared about year 27. What will my goals be this year? What will I accomplish? What good (and…yikes…bad!) things will happen this year? Honestly, the whole thing is freakin’ me out. One day I actually sat in my office in tears because I wanted to be 22/23 again. Now I really know why Hallmark makes all those birthday cards that make fun of age: Getting old(er) sucks! [Note: If you’re over the age of 27 and reading this, please do not send me hate mail. You see, you are the lovely exception to this getting old thing. In fact, you don’t look a day over 17!]

After my birthday I hopped on a plane and flew to Denver to spend Labor Day with my sister. We didn’t go running together, but we, of course, did go hiking. This time, though, we didn’t have to hike through any snow fields.

In September I ran 5K in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in Newport Beach with Sabina and Nicole B. I wasn’t super speedy, but I finished in 27:56 and I was happy with that.

In 2 ½ weeks I am going to start training to accomplish my next goal: My first half marathon! Frank Shorter said that “You have to forget your last marathon before you try another. Your mind can't know what's coming.” And so it is time to forget about last year, forget about the seven months of training, forget about my 26 While 26 mission and blog, forget about my marathon, and forget about being 26. It’s time to move on. I’m looking forward to this new goal in my life. I’m ready for my running shoes to hit the pavement (and treadmill!) again. If you can’t join me for a run, you can at least keep up with me in cyberspace as I train to run 13 miles on January 13th.

Bill Rodgers said, "The marathon can humble you." And it has. I pray that this next goal, this next race, humbles me even more. It is fitting, then, that today's song of the day is Humble Me, by Norah Jones:

Went out on a limb
Gone too far
Broken down at the side of the road
Stranded at the outskirts and sun's creepin' up
Baby's in the backseat
Still fast asleep
Dreamin' of better days
I don't want to call you but you're all I have to turn to

What do you say
When it's all gone away?
Baby I didn't mean to hurt you
Truth spoke in whispers will tear you apart
No matter how hard you resist it
It never rains when you want it to

You humble me Lord
Humble me Lord
I'm on my knees empty
You humble me Lord
You humble me Lord
Please, please, please forgive me

Baby Teresa got your eyes
I see you all the time
When she asks about her daddy
I never know what to say

Heard you knocked the bottle
And helped to build the church
You carry an honest wage
Is it true you have someone keeping you company?

What do you say
When its all gone away?
Baby I didn't meant to hurt you
Truth spoke in whispers will tear you apart
No matter how hard you resist it
It never rains when you want it to

You humble me Lord
Humble me Lord
I'm on me knees empty
You humble me Lord
You humble me Lord
Please, please, please forgive me