Walk-a-Marathon

So happy to see our girlies Katie and Kimberly spectating

It was Cold.  There was Rain.  We were Wet.  But standing at the center of a crowd of literally thousands of chattering, hopping, happy people was invigorating, motivating, encouraging.  And warm -- even in a 40 degree drizzle.  Energy swirled through the mass like an adrenaline cloud.  It wrapped us in electric gauze.  It tickled our skin and pulled at our hair, urging us on…you can do it, yes you can!  Come play with me:  run!!

Medical issues and personal stressors kept me from training properly for the Kansas City Marathon this year – my longest training run was only 8 miles.  And Bob didn’t actually train at all.  Still…we are not a couple to sleep in.  So, fully intending to walk the entire Kansas City Half Marathon – together, in our matching marathon shirts aren’t-we-just-too-cute headgear…Bob and I “jalked” (jog/walk:  credit to Bernie Fitzpatrick) most of the run’s 13.1 miles.

Until that last hill around mile ten when Bob said, “go!” stretched his legs into the decline – intent on catching the 3:00 pace setter group a mere sprint away – and YAMMO.  His calf tightened into a hardball and…the running was over.

For a little while anyway.

Mister Competitive hobbled until he could walk.  He gulped Gatorade and swallowed banana bits at the aid stations.  He walked until he could stride until he could wog until he could jog until he could run.  And in the end…we ran, finishing the half marathon just 13 minutes off his goal time.

As for me…I was disappointed not to run competitively.  I finished at 2:01 last year and really, really wanted to beat 2:00 this year.  My melancholy was tempered by the fun of spending 3 hours wandering early morning Kansas City with my guy.  Yes.  It was.  FUN.

Next year?  I intend to run.  (Once he can walk) Bob intends to…train…and says he’ll add a speedier leg movement to his routine.  Watch out, Kansas City:  we’ll be back.  Adding our energy to the people potpourri.  Feeding the adrenaline cloud.  Joining the play.  To RUN!