If you’ve been following my exploits and misadventures for any length of time, you’ll probably remember the salty, bitter tear-and-consolation-wine soaked post of defeat that I made about my first and last half marathon attempt. I tried to be positive, and I tried to even be a little bit funny, but it was a rough post to make. There may have been a few hard swallows and a brushing away of the tears welling up, because I wanted so badly to write about my epic victory and how I qualified for Boston finished.
Guys, that sucked. And it still sucks, whenever I think about it. I don’t want to go out like that, with a record worse than [insert sports guy with terrible batting or shooting or sport-throw-balling record here. I don’t know. I don’t follow these things.] That’s simply not how it’s done. When things don’t go well, you pick yourself up, brush yourself off or ice your knee as the case may be, and you try again.
And so, to absolutely no trumpets or fanfare, I have decided to try again. I have registered for the OKC Memorial Marathon, to make my second attempt at the half.
We are BACK, baby.
This marathon is a really important one to me. It’s been ranked one of the Top 12 in the world to do by Runner’s World magazine. Madame X, who is my equivalent of the neighborhood drug peddler when it comes to athleticism, says it’s the best event she’s been to, hands down.
All proceeds go towards the OKC National Memorial, which is a beautiful museum and park memorializing the events of April 19th, 1995, when 166 people died in an act of domestic terrorism. I have been fortunate enough to visit this memorial, and I can’t say enough about it, though words can’t accurately describe the feeling of it. It’s beautiful. Sober. Dignified. Hopeful. If you ever get a chance to go, please do.
“We come here to remember those who were killed, those who survived and those changed forever. May all who leave here know the impact of violence. May this memorial offer comfort, strength, peace, hope and serenity.“
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