The Power Of A Hug

The Runner! Thursday, November 6th 2008, 2:31 PM 20 2It was April 15th 1996. It was a day I'll never forget. The 100th running of the Boston Marathon. She said she would meet me at the finish line. That was all I needed to know. I knew I would make it the whole 26.2 miles!.......... I had been running for about 20 years. Never been the physical type, I had flat feet and a bad back but I began running in my early twentys. I ran as a way of dealing with the depression of a relationship gone bad. Not one but many! I knew that one day I would meet the girl of my dreams. One that was a combination of all the good qualitys of all the women I had known. One day I met her!..... When I use to set out for my daily run, I would imagine her waiting for me at the end to give me a hug and to congratulate me! That is what kept me going all those years was that image...... The day of the big one finally arrived. I was very anxious to get to the finish and get the hug I had waited so many years for. I started on a bad note with a mild case of the flu and in the early going, it seemed to suck the life right out of me. I "hit the wall" at 15 miles, right at the foot of heartbreak hill. I knew I was hyperthermic by the time I reached the red cross station at mile 22 and knew I was in trouble. From the base of my neck to the tips of my toes, there was not one spot on mybody that was not in torment. My sweatshirt was tied around my waist and I needed to put it on but my hands were paralyzed! As the red cross worker untied my shirt and put it over my head, I was worried she might talk me into quitting upon seeing the state I was in. She had a look of concern in her eyes and saw my determination. As I left she told me "only 4 miles to go", which seemed like a thousand! I kept hobbling along with legs of lead one step at a time. I wanted that hug in the worst way. Two-tenths of a mile to go and six plus hours from the start, I could see the finish line! I started looking for "her" as I got closer to the finish line. What few people were left for spectators were cheering me on but I didn't hear them. I was only concerned with finding "her"! Just a few feet to go and still no sign of "her!" She must be here she has to be here! My body was aching and so was my heart when I realized she was nowhere to be found. My heart sank and so did my body as I dropped to my knees. I gave it all I had! I had no more to give! I don't remember crossing the finish line but I must have as two BAA workers came over and carried me to the medical tent where I was given intravenous fluids. As I lay on the cot with needles in my arms, I was calculating in my head, how many miles I had run over a 20 year period to reach this moment. I figured I had run approximately 11,000 miles! Thats 11,000 miles for one hug which I never got! I hung up my running shoes that day and never put them on again. Arthritis took over my body. My life as I knew it was dead forever! I often reflect back on that day in 1996. I learned something about myself but it was a very cruel learning experience!   Write blog articles | Edit | Delete