An Ordinary Runner

I heard of a story about a man who trained for the longest time to qualify for the Boston marathon. He finally qualified and ran in the race that just took place just a couple weeks ago. During the race he recorded his experience. Apparently the day of the race he began having stomach problems. His stomach issues were quite serious causing much suffering throughout the race. But because of his determination he would not quit. He had set out to accomplish his goal and nothing short of death would stop him.

Some people would say he was a foolish man. Some would not understand his drive or determination and think he had to be out of his mind. But despite what others thought or would think, he wanted to be a winner. He wasn't a great runner. He wasn't even going to place in his age group. He was just an ordinary runner who wanted to run in the Boston marathon. It was just something he wanted to do. No one else was making him do this.

I've heard that those who have heard his experience either cringe at the suffering the man endured or they are just laughing so hard in utter disbelief that he kept going the distance.

After he crossed the finish line much later than he anticipated, he fell to the ground and began to sob. He wept and wept and wept. It is all on the recording.
They say he was just an ordinary runner. I say he was an extraordinary runner.

Today when I went on my 4 mile run outside (in dry weather I might add), I thought about this "ordinary" runner. And thought about the kindred spirit I share with him - the love of running, the desire to be a winner according to your own standard, the determination not to give in or give up, the emotional release of accomplishing something you thought was beyond your reach, the pure joy it brings, even in the suffering and you do suffer when you train for a marathon and even a half for that matter. Sometimes I suffer all the way through a 4 or 5 miler. But you keep going. No one tells you to do this. You aren't doing this for anyone. You aren't fast. Not ever going to win in the "big time" or even in the "little time." But your just the ordinary runner, who puts on those running shoes and sets out to get another run in. That's me. Just another ordinary runner. Someday, maybe my experience will be extraordinary to someone else.