"More than just a dotted line... More than just a dash"

Hi Friends and Happy Friday!

While I generally like to keep the focus of this blog to all things music-related, as many of you know, I am also a runner.  That said, I wanted to take a quick moment today to let you all know I am proud to be running my very first marathon this weekend -- the Philadelphia Marathon -- and to let you in just a little on my journey to get to this point...

At the beginning of this year, I was running very regularly.  With two half marathons under my belt, and having registered for two half marathons and my third Broad Street Run (a 10-miler) in the spring, I was feeling great about running.  I decided early on in the year that one of my goals for 2010 would be to complete a full marathon.  

Then, I faced a set-back--knee troubles.      

Out of nowhere, I started having knee pain toward the end of my training for the Country Music Half Marathon in Nashville.  I went out and got a knee brace, took a break from running, tried to do what I could to rest the knee.  The knee pain didn't go away entirely, but I was able to complete the race in Nashville in 1:57, achieving my goal of finishing in under 2 hours.  I was in a good deal of pain afterward, though.  After Nashville, I bought new sneakers, kept running with the brace, was trying to take it easy.  I then proceeded to run the Broad Street Run and Odyssey Half Marathon, suffering through some pretty brutal knee pain.  It got to the point that I couldn't even run one mile without being in excruciating pain.  I was at my wit's end at that point, my hopes of ever running again at all, let alone running a full marathon, completely shattered.  

In May, I went to see an orthopedic doctor over at Jefferson Hospital, who gave me the news that the knee pain I was suffering was due to a condition commonly referred to as "Runner's Knee," that it could be corrected with some special stretches done regularly, and that I could continue to run without causing any physical damage to myself.  He even told me that I could still run a marathon this year, if I really wanted to.  I laughed and thought, yeah right!  

After doing the suggested stretches for several weeks, I started running regularly again, even running with a group three days a week, and was feeling good!  I was unbelievably relieved, and thankful.  I still did not think for one moment, however, that I would be running a marathon.  That was until one day this summer, I was having lunch with a friend--someone very special to me and who I admire--and he convinced me that I could, and should, sign up to run the Philadelphia Marathon.  So that very night, I did!  

Since making the commitment, I have trained very hard for three months, along with others in my awesome running group, the South Philly Striders, and I am proud to say that this Sunday, November 21, 2010, I will be running in the Philadelphia Marathon!   

My goal is to finish in 4:30:00, but I will truly be happy just to finish the race.  I will be running with Donna Searer, with whom I've been doing a lot of the training -- this is also her first marathon!  The picture below is from our 20-mile run with some others from the group!  

20-Mile Training Run ("Big Long Fun Run") - October 30, 2010

If you are interested in coming out to the race to cheer us on, here is a map of the race course -- there are also designated cheer zones.  I would be delighted to see any friends and family members who can make it.  The race starts bright and early, at 7 am, on the Ben Franklin Parkway.  I will likely cross the starting line around 7:20 or so.

My journey to get to this point has been a challenging one, with ups and downs, much like anything else in life.  Training for this marathon has only reinforced my beliefs that you can achieve your goals, whatever they are, as long as you have the will and determination to achieve them.  

And with that, I'd like to leave you with the lyrics to a Rush song called "Marathon."  Enjoy, and I hope to see some of you along the race course this Sunday.  Wish me luck!

Tina

"Marathon" by Rush

It's not how fast you can go

The force goes into the flow

If you pick up the beat

You can forget about the heat

More than just survival

More than just a flash

More than just a dotted line

More than just a dash

It's a test of ultimate will

The heartbreak climb uphill

Got to pick up the pace

If you want to stay in the race

More than blind ambition

More than simple greed

More than a finish line

Must feed this burning need 

In the long run...

Chorus

From first to last

The peak is never passed

Something always fires the light that gets in your eyes

One moment's high, and glory rolls on by

Like a streak of lightning

That flashes and fades in the summer sky

Your meters may overload

You can rest at the side of the road

You can miss a stride

But nobody gets a free ride

More than high performance

More than just a spark

More than just the bottom line

Or a lucky shot in the dark

In the long run...

Chorus

You can do a lot in a lifetime

If you don't burn out too fast

You can make the most of the distance

First you need endurance

First you've got to last...

Chorus