Day 24: That was awesome: Marathoning

Running the Detroit Free Press Marathon

I’ll always remember flowing through mile 14 like a tidal wave. The pain at mile 22. The mental capacity to dig deep. The party through the tunnel back into the U.S. Receiving the text from my then-boyfriend, “Almost to me. Breathe.” My uncle yelling, cheering, running me in to the finish. Crying in my boyfriend’s arms, experiencing so much emotion. The energy. The city.

Falling in love with morning runs in the dark. Leaving for the weekend and packing an extra bag just for that Saturday long run. Always an empty Hüma packet on the floorboard. Tracking ounces of water intake religiously. Plotting a fuel strategy for race day.

The five months of dedicated training, the injury and recovery, the mental capacity, the prep and execution. I was experiencing awe.