#Fit2Fat2FitBlog: Pushing through at the end

When you run the Marine Corps Marathon, you must keep a 14-minute-a-mile pace to “Beat the Bridge.” Beating the bridge means you have to get to the 14th Street bridge over the Potomac River by a certain time or they will politely put you on a bus and your marathon is over. You really don’t want to run 20 miles and then be told, “Sorry, game over.”

When I ran it in 2010, I made it in plenty of time. In fact, I was running faster than I had planned. The race had started at a perfect 47 degrees but had slowly crept up into the 70s by the time I got to the river. I saw a sign that said, “Make the Bridge your b*tch.” “Lovely sentiment,” I thought.

Of course, the bridge made me it’s b*tch. Because of the warmer temperatures, my legs cramped. I was halfway over the river and I felt pain and fatigue like I’ve never felt before. I wanted to quit.

But I couldn’t.

I had raised $13,000 for cancer research. I had people pulling for me. I was invested. And besides, I DON’T QUIT. Ever.

I was running the race in honor of my friend Jimmy Riley. Jimmy was one of my cancer heroes — heck, everyday heroes. He had been melanoma-free for over 20 years. The it came back and took his life. He fought so hard. Jimmy didn’t quit.

“Help me Jimmy,” I cried out. “Help me.”

I knew Jimmy had been in way more pain than I was in. I made it through Crystal City. I pushed past Arlington Cemetery. Each stone told a hero’s story. They knew more pain than I ever would.

I got to the last .2 miles. My legs were in full-cramp mode. But the sight of my family and the finish line pushed me up the hill. I got my medal from the Marine, cried and fell over. “Thank you Jimmy,” I said as I sat up, gripping my medal.

Today I am exhausted mentally and physically. The workout was tough but I’m more tired in my mind than body right now. Life has been grinding me down. Hope is out there — but it’s not as easy to see as it has been. I’m fighting fatigue.

I’m sitting here at my kitchen table this morning, worried about many things in my life and preparing to speak to a few hundred people. I am marshaling the energy (no pun intended) to put it out there on the stage. I am in the last part of my race.

I’m thankful I work out like I do. It gives me the reserve of energy I need.

The difference between being average and successful is finding that little bit extra at the end. That push that gets you across the finish line. I’m looking for it this morning. I’m thinking about Jimmy.