Dear John,
You don’t remember me, but I’m the runner you bear-hugged in the finisher’s shute of my last marathon.
I saw you before the race when we herded into the starting corrals, and I blew past you at mile one.
I held onto 3rd place overall until mile 16. You were not in my thoughts.
I was still miles ahead of you when the hills started earlier than I expected.
I started to slow down, and dropped to 4th place.
I didn’t know it, but by mile 18, you were closing in on me.
At mile 20, I tripped on some gravel and knocked a pebble in my shoe.
I tried to stop so I could shake it out.
But my legs, unprepared for the increasing incline, told me that if I did, they wouldn’t be finishing the race.
So I lodged the pebble under my toes and I dropped to 5th.
At mile 23, you came up beside me and asked if I was okay.
I wasn’t.
You told me it was okay to walk up the rest of the hill. You told me to draft you, and slowed to a walk ahead of me so I could.
You reminded me there was free chocolate milk at the finish line.
When we got to the top of the hill, I told you to go on without me.
At mile 24, I dropped to 6th and watched you run off to finish.
I didn’t expect to see you again.
At mile 25, my foot was in shreds and I’d reached my limit. I forewent my signature sprint to the finish.
I limped along, and shed some tears as I dropped to 7th.
I don’t remember crossing the line at 26.2, and I don’t remember putting my medal around my neck.
But I remember a bear hug, accompanied by chocolate milk, and someone shouting “I knew you could do it!”
Dear John,
We were strangers; just names on bibs, separated by age, gender, and speed.
We were the unlikeliest of running partners.
You may have forgotten me, but each time I look at the scar from that pebble I think of you.
Thank you for slowing down.
And thank you for walking me up that hill.
But, most of all, thank you for the chocolate milk.
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Yay! It makes me so happy to see your post!!!!!
I love this. It captures the wonderful camaraderie among runners. Congrats to you for finishing the race.
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Thank you! I’m going to try and get back to regular blogging (and reading!) if I can!! I wouldn’t have crossed the line were it not for John’s help that day. We’re a special breed, us runners. 🙂
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So wonderful to read this. I am always so amazed with the running community. Even though the race events are timed there are so many runners who go out of their way to encourage fellow runners.
Thank you for sharing your experience with John. As in often the case his reward was the joy he felt witnessing you cross the finish line and evidenced by the big bear hug you received. A heart warming post. 🙂
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Thanks, Carl! That race was a paradox – I still managed to PR, but I’ve never felt so beat up crossing a finish line (trail races included!!!). I couldn’t have made it without John.
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You are back!!!! It made my heart smile to see your post come across my Meet and Greet!!!
Danny
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Aww, thank you, Danny! I’m going to try and get back to regular posts as much as I can. 🙂
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