Marathon

David and I ran a marathon yesterday.  26.2 miles.  Wow.  Here's David's version of things as told to our missionary son Josh in his weekly email:

We finished our Marathon yesterday!  It is so good to be done!  That was one of the hardest things that I have ever done in my life!  As you know, about 4 weeks ago during our 20 mile training run, I hurt my knees.  It was so tough and hurt so bad!  When I ran it felt like someone was pushing an ice pick into my knees.  The discouraging part was that it started happening earlier and earlier every time I ran.  The first time it happened at ~13 miles, the second time it happened at 7  miles, then 3 then 2.  I rested and rested, took lots of ibuprofen (my poor liver!), and iced my knees until I thought I was going to get frostbite.  Finally, I went in to Dr. Jackson.  He is the one who operated on my shoulder.  He confirmed that I had IT Band Syndrome.

Your IT Band runs from your hip to just below your knees.  It passes over a little protrusion in your knee and sometimes that gets inflamed and hurts like a banshie.  Dr. Jackson gave me a medrol pack that was supposed to reduce the inflammation.  It didn’t work, so this last Tuesday, I got a shot of cortisone.  My right knee felt good, but my left knee hurt even worse.  I couldn’t even walk.  Wed and Thursday were horrible!  Going up and down stairs took a long time because I was so gimpy.  Your mom prayed so hard!  Friday, I woke up and the pain that I had felt every step had dramatically reduced.  I could walk without limping!  Great huh - the day before 26.2 miles, I could walk without limping…  All day long, I prayed and prayed that I could run the next day.  I took a half day off work and your mom and I went to pick up our packets.  I had decided that I was going to run if I could, so Saturday morning at 3:00am the alarm clock went off.  I only got 1 hour of sleep the night before worrying about the race.  Your mom, Tony and I drove down to catch the bus up to Wallsburg.

It seemed like it took forever to get there.  The whole time, I was thinking, can I really do this?  What if my knees start hurting?  I decided then and there that if the pain started that my visualization would be to focus on your mom and I crossing the finish line holding hands.  I would concentrate on that to get me through the pain.

The beginning of the race was exciting!  There were so many people there.  There were about 50 port-a-potties there and there was a line to get into every one of them.  I was so nervous!

Your mom and I and Tony had decided to do the run-walk method.  It is where you run for a mile then walk for a minute.  The idea was that walking gave your running muscles a chance to relax and reduced some of the stress associated with the race.  My knee pain started about mile 7 or so.  It wasn’t as acute as it was before, so it was manageable, so I kept on running.

Your mom kept us on target.  She would drag Tony and I along every mile and encourage us to run again and again.  She was a great coach/athlete.  You're lucky to have such a marvelous and dedicated mom!  Between Tony and me, we would struggle along and she would be there offering encouragement and say let’s get going.

Previously, I had never ran more than 16 miles in a straight shot.  The day we ran 18 miles, it was broken up by watching the kids run at a track meet and our 20 mile run was interrupted by IT Band Syndrome and I walked the last 5 (well, more like limped the last 5).  So by mile 18, it was getting hard.  We kept running and running and running.  It was so hard!  The last 3 miles, one of the ladies that we know from the Stake was at an aid station.  She had agreed to run the last 3 miles with us.  She and mom just talked and talked while I just labored along behind.  She was so supportive and was a good cheerleader to me.  With about 2 blocks to go, your mom and I ran hand in hand all through the finish line.  The McCloskeys were there and took some great pictures.  I was so emotional that I couldn’t even talk.  Your mom was just happy - like she usually is.

I can tell you that it was great!  It was HARD - but as you know, we can do HARD things!  Your mom helped me so much.  She doesn’t even know how much, because lots of it was in my thoughts…When the pain got horrible, I just thought of her and crossing the finish line with her.  And I prayed - a lot!

The best thing was and is having a wonderfully hard thing that your mom and I can share the rest of our lives!  Hard things are like that.  It gives you something to reflect on and celebrate for the rest of your life.

Your mission is like that Elder Josher - be obedient and faithful and endure to the end by serving well and it will bless your life forever!

I do love that man - he is a treasure.