Giving all you have to give.

[windwalker]

The brutal race weekend is now behind us and it's surely one we will not soon forget. I've never done a race in such conditions before and really don't wish to ever do that again. I have never been so close to hypothermia as I was on Saturday.

I'm a senior athlete and a good portion of my WISH heroes are also. We are because of our age affected more by the conditions. But we are also because of our time on the planet mentally stronger for it. We are not easily beaten.

I know that some didn't finish. Please, don't feel defeated. There is no shame in coming up short when you gave all you had to give. I remember seeing an ambulance pulling up to a med tent about mile 20 and a strong muscular looking man in late 20s to early 30s being carried to the van for a trip to the hospital.

Don't judge your self worth my whether or not you finished the race, judge it by the fact that you had the courage to start, (now where have I heard that before). Our WISH shirts say it all.

Everyone that had the courage to start and those that stood out in the brutal cold to support those racing are heroes.

Thanks for being there with me.

Dave

 

[JimB.]

I'm right with ya' Dave. I had a sucky marathon. SO bad in fact that I'm going back to Goofy next year. Where the logic is in that I do not know, but........

The thing about it is that when my legs went away waaaaaay back on mile 17, and then my PF raged it's ugly, angry head about mile 21, I just knew there was no way I was not going to finish. Maybe it was a lifetime of experience, maybe it was my ability to compartmentalize really well, maybe it was because I had invested 150 bucks and was not leaving without that @$#!# medal.

But it was a brutal day. The worst I have ever seen (cold wise) in a race. Just showing up made everyone a winner, regardless of results.

 

[wdw4us]

From what I understand, those conditions on Saturday are not unusual for the Boston Marathon. I'll pass on that one too.

I think strength is one thing but mental determination and confidence makes a big difference. I also think, the attitude that this would not stop me helped a lot. Good Job to everyone who gave it their all!

denise

 

[JoanneNC]

Grats to all the Starters

Seriously, it was freezing and I questioned myself a few times what the heck was I doing there...lol. Mile 8 passing my hotel was another challenge I didn't expect as it was very difficult to keep running..

 

[MickeyT]

Thanks Dave. I read your post aloud to my wife. She finished the 1/2 Saturday and I was telling her it was a testament to her willpower as much as a race. Coldest rain in the world fell on her and she did not quit.

You and I spoke as we were coming through AK Sunday. I followed/paced behind you for a few miles. My Garmin went dead earlier and I thought that if I can keep up with the Panda I'll be OK. Thanks for the unknowing support.

So I finished my first marathon. Said it would be my first and last. Bucket list kinda thing. But who knows what tomorrow brings. Another day. Another challenge.......

 

[jmasgat]

Hey Dave, I'm glad you finished. I was a course monitor in Epcot stationed at the Christmas tree/turnaround point at World Showcase. I was looking for WISh'ers to go by....which was difficult since everyone was bundled up! I did see you and yelled out "Go Panda" or something like that. Glad to hear you toughed it out to the end.

Maura

 

[syko]

Maura I was the one who tried to run you over!!!!

I had to go outside of the cones to make the turn.

 

[tiberius]

The brutal race weekend is now behind us and it's surely one we will not soon forget. I've never done a race in such conditions before and really don't wish to ever do that again. I have never been so close to hypothermia as I was on Saturday.

Everyone that had the courage to start and those that stood out in the brutal cold to support those racing are heroes.

Thanks for being there with me.

Dave

Dave, I think you said a mouthful there and I quite agree. A month earlier I did a half in Austin in wet 35 degree temps and thought it was the worst conditions I would ever race in, now its just the 3rd worst in my book.

I met many WISHers that I've only known through these boards for the first time, and met many more than I didn't know (at least not yet), but I always felt my spirit lift when I saw the yellow/green WISH shirt wearers cheering me onward--even my I passed by one pair around the Poly area who were discussing that I probably didn't even know who they were, which was correct but they were still my teammates and I still felt good for their support.

I got to meet you in the early morning just after bag check on Saturday when you spotted my WISH shirt and it was good to meet you in person.

 

[Scott H]

Well said Dave sooo true for sure.

 

[windwalker]

Although I'm staying firm on not going Goofy next year I have pretty much managed to talk myself into the marathon next year.

I'm going to have to prearrange a meeting place for the princesses I need to pace, I couldn't find anyone this year with everyone all bundled up and with the crowds.

Dave

 

[jeanneg]

You are so right, Dave......everyone who came out those 2 miserable days is a hero regardless of the outcome.

It was so hard to spot the WISHers with everyone being so bundled up. As a spectator on Saturday, it was a little easier because our location between the Poly and GF was right on the road. Richard, that could have been John and me.....so many WISHers looked at us quizically when we started whooping and hollering. Since we too were bundled up, they had no idea who we were either. That was why I started "flashing" my WISH shirt whenever a fellow teammate went by! Working at the water stop on Sunday, I know I missed seeing alot of people go by (including you, Dave). Our stop was so frozen with discarded water we actually had to move away from the table in an attempt to keep the worst of the icy patches away from the runners. That meant it was a few steps back every time we needed to grab more water and so our backs were turned to the pact quite frequently. All in all, a very memorable experience!

 

[TEK224]

Thanks DAve. You are so right. Unfortunately, I was a non-finisher in the full. I felt pretty good after the half (only a little stiff), had no blister problems and generally felt ok going into the full.
Sunday morning, I just could not get warmed up. By the time I got to mile 3 (going through Epcot), I could feel the shin splints starting. I was struggling to stay motivated and in the race. I felt like I had an angel on one shoulder (giving encouragement) and the devil on the other (giving me every reason to stop). I could leave Epcot and just go to the finish and wait for my niece to get done. Nope - I decided to keep going. If I got to the TTC and my legs were really bad, I could hop on the monorail and go back to the finish area and wait. Nope - kept going. After getting through MK (and seeing the sweepers not far behind me) I decided I wasn't going to quit. I would keep going until I finished or until they flagged me off the course. I barely made the cutoff at 15 and, unfortunately, got flagged at 18.
Although I was very disappointed I didn't finish to get Mickey and Goofy, it probably was for the best. MY shins were very sore and I was going as fast as I could (which wasn't very fast at that point). Last time they felt that bad, I ended up on crutches for 4 days.
So, I'm just going to have to train better and smarter for next year.
I'm looking at it as a personal accomplishment this year that I didn't give up at mile 3 (that devil could be mighty persuasive).

Terri

 

[Honeibee]

It was the hardest-earned bling I've ever gotten. And even though it was not a PR, it it the one that I am most proud of. Call me what you will....but no one can call me a wimp after that race.