When Kenyan long-distance runner Douglas Wakiihuri told journalists, “Even if I explain to you, you’ll never understand it [the marathon], you’re outside of it.” he wasn’t kidding. The experience of the marathon is almost ineffable. It has a transcendent, almost initiatory quality that defies logic, appealing instead to a deeper, more primal core.

I’ve tried writing this post half a dozen times – trying to capture what it was that I experienced on Sunday, but I’m not sure I can. I can throw out all kinds of adjectives — fantastic, amazing, excruciating, exhilarating, raw, humbling, beautiful, horrifying, trying, uplifting  — but they only scrape the surface. A Daily Mile friend named Becky M. wrote of her STWM experience:

“Today I looked at myself in the mirror and I saw myself differently than I did yesterday morning…”

It’s true there is something different. It’s almost non-exist in is subtleness, but the ironclad knowledge that when one’s will is focused, anything can be accomplished changes a person. I found myself discovering this around kilometer 39 or 40 – my legs began to cramp (imagine a charley horse in every muscle of your legs at the same time… where do you grab or stretch?). In that moment, there was no thought of “my race is screwed,” but only the matter-of-fact thought: “keep moving, this too shall pass.”

The marathon falls into that existential relation: you are a tiny spec of the universe, and yet it wouldn’t be the same without you. Or between .01% and 2% of the world’s population will run a marathon, and yet thousands of others just ran the same race you did. It matters, and it doesn’t. It’s a major personal accomplishment, and yet I’m already looking at what I want to do next – the next race, the next challenge, the next cycle of training.

Ok, enough waxing poetic — onto the fun stuff:

Marathon Quest:

Can I just say, I’d be willing to pay the $100 just to have access to the VIP start and finish area that was part of the sweet sweet deal!?! Frankly, I’d pay $100 just to have access to the toilets and not have to use the port-o-poties! We had the “Characters” room (how fitting!) at the Marriott before and after the race where we could leave our bags, and get food/drinks/etc. I can’t thank the people from Canadian Running who organized this enough – you’re fantastic and I had a blast participating!

Team awesome:

Olympic gold medalist and running legend Emil Zatopek once said, “ The athlete of today is not an athlete alone.” He was referring to doctors, scientists, coaches, and other such people, but he should have included family and friends.

It was them that made this experience what it was. Whether it was my husband putting up with the endless workouts, late dinners or bitching about a tight obscure ligament somewhere in my leg, or my friend’s listening to me drone endlessly about running and training – they not only put up with it, but showed up on race day! Here’s some pics of these fantastic people:

I also need to give a big thank you to Kelly for her great sign and mad cheering skills at the 400m mark!

Marathon Torch Relay:

As if running a marathon wasn’t enough, I also had an opportunity to run in the Marathon Torch Relay on Friday, where I accompanied the Running Room’s John Stanton as he carried the torch for his portion of the relay.

From Left: Me, Scott, Duff, kids, "Pheidippides", Allan Brookes

The marathon torch came to Toronto from Greece as part of the ceremony to “ignite the marathon spirit and ideals in Toronto of world peace, fair competition, and sport as a way of life.” It was also in celebration of the 2500 anniversary of the first running of the marathon by Pheidippides after the Battle of Marathon in 490 BCE. Here’s a short video of the relay:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBoweklScoo&feature=player_embedded

Results:

Finally, for anyone still reading at this point – and I appologise for the length, it was a busy weekend! – here’s how I did: