This Sunday I will be running in the California International Marathon (CIM). I have mixed emotions about this race. CIM holds a dear place in my heart. I ran this race exactly 5 years ago as my 5th marathon, and to this day, it still holds my elusive PR; a number I've chased since, but have fallen short each time. Sunday I will run it as my 15th marathon. Normally I would stare that PR down come Sunday and tell it "you're mine". However, life sometimes has other plans.
At the time of this year's CIM, it will have been 8 weeks since life handed me those other plans. 8 weeks ago I was told I needed "emergency eye surgery that would cause a lot of trauma". If I didn't do it "now", and by now, I was told I needed it within a few hours of learning this news, I could jeopardize my chances of having any vision at all. Long story short, I was told no running for 6 weeks. The key time I needed to prepare for this year's CIM.
I debated running in CIM as I knew I couldn't beat my PR and I wasn't sure I wanted to taint my memory of this course with a less then stellar performance. However, like my friend, Diary of an Average Runner, I need to end this year on a good note. I need to go out on Sunday and with each step celebrate the fact that I still have vision and think of all those who do not or face other difficult challenges. In each race, when I'm feeling the need to quit, I always dig deep and remind myself how lucky I am to have the ability to run, to live in a country where I can afford luxuries like a marathon and frankly, wake up to see another day.
Sunday is not the time to feel sorry for myself, or to be upset that I wasn't able to train properly. Sunday is about celebrating my wins. And I will do this with a little help from my friends. About 15 gals, give or take, will be running in this race or screaming like crazy from the sidelines. All this in POURING down rain, according to the forecast...now that is dedicated friendship.
See you all Sunday. I'll be the drowned rat in pink arm sleeves!
As always, this race is dedicated to my sister who faces her own marathons each and every day.
