Marathon Monday

I realized I've been quite the Debbie Downer... Of course, that is just where my head (and heart) have been at lately.

Today I had a change.

I love Marathon Monday. No, I'm not a runner (I barely run to catch the bus!) but I absolutely love the general excitement and happiness that the marathon brings out in people. People line the roads to cheer and support total strangers. I LOVE that!

I'd been a bit melancholy over the weekend thinking about a year ago, and how I'd viewed the marathon with my other pregnant friend and we devoured a box of cookies, and how now she has a 7 month old son while I have daily injections of Lupron... Bitter much? I know, I am.

But this morning, as I was driving in for blood & ultrasound, I saw the buses full of runners speeding out the Pike, and I got goosebumps. I love that so many people are crazy enough to pit themselves against this incredible challenge.

I walked part of the route today with a great friend who has recently come back to Boston. We stood in the crowd and yelled and screamed and jumped up and down for these amazing people. I love that I was just one voice in thousands cheering these people on in their struggle.

We stood at the rise right before Fenway (the 1 mile mark) and saw so many inspiring things... Grandparents running, people running to raise money for charities, the elite runners speeding by battling for first place, a man running with one prosthetic leg and another running with both legs being prosthetic! Amazing. Inspiring.

However, what touched me the most was this one guy. A normal, average, next-door kind of guy. He was tired (can you blame him?) and was walking. I looked him in the eye and told him how close he was, how this was the last hill, how amazing he had done so far, to keep going. He smiled...and started running again.

I did that. Me. I may be bruised, battered, and often depressed, but I can still make someone feel better. And by doing so, make myself feel better too.

Way to go marathoners!! Can't wait to cheer you all on again...next year!