Because I can

On March 3rd, I ran my first marathon.  This was a huge deal for me for so many reasons.  26.2 down.  I can say the words "I am a marathoner" and be proud of it.  I had an amazing group of friends come and cheer for me in Arkansas - yup, they drove the 5 hours to Arkansas - through the whole thing.  At one point, they actually fed me, FED ME, and I let them.  I asked for hugs at the end, the non-toucher needing hugs and help walking, but that is neither here nor there.  I had more family and friends cheering for me from a far - they were with me the whole time too whether they realized it or not.

That whole amazing experience, where I started as a girl who started running a year and a half ago, made me realize just how much a person is capable of doing.  I did start and end as a different person and would be lying if I said I wasn't thinking of doing another one, pain, tears, scars and all.  I am a marathoner, and that is not the most amazing thing that happened to me that weekend.

On March 2nd, I walked in the Walk MS event in Dallas for the third straight year.  Lauren and I walked with our families for a cure.  It was awesome to see the amount of people out there walking, riding, running, scooting, whatever it took to show the dedication we have to find a cure for MS.  I don't know how many more years we will be walking it together (there is talk of a tent with a hostess next year) but I know I will be walking it as long as these two legs will carry me, just like I will be running in races as long as the same two legs will carry me.  Why?  Because I can.

I got countless emails and texts the week after asking me how I felt and my most honest answer was that I felt blessed.  Yes, I was sore as hell and I could never imagine running a 5k, let alone a marathon, ever again, but more than that? I felt lucky.

Somewhere between my wipe out after mile 8 and the hill from hell at mile 24 I realized something.  I was doing what so many people cannot.  The day before, I was celebrating and walking in honor of so many people who would LOVE to be able to run even a mile, let alone 26.2.  Sunday, I was realizing a dream I had put my mind too. My legs, muscles, feet, lungs, heart - sure, they may have been screaming and cramping in ways I didn't know was possible - were carrying me the whole way.

I wrote this many weeks ago and never posted it, I still don't think it provides the full message, or emotion, of what I feel about that weekend but it was time to hit 'Publish'.  People still ask me why I did it.  People think I have lost my mind as it is bad for my knees, or hips, or doesn't need to happen as no one is chasing me, or takes too much time, or or or.  The real answer is I did it because I can and so many others cannot.  And it isn't because they don't want to, or they just don't care to put in the training or try, they physically cannot do it.

I am a marathoner because I ran 26.2 miles and I did it because I can.