Tomorrow I run the Chicago Marathon, one of Five marathon majors in the world. This is my third marathon this year, and my sixth overall. I wanted to run Chicago for two reasons; I would like to run all Marathon Majors (Boston, Chicago, New York, Berlin, London), and it’s in one of my home towns. I lived in Chicago from around Kindergarten, till 3rd grade. I can vividly remember being on a bowling team, ice skating on the lagoon in our back yard, going to the dead fish riddled beach of Lake Michigan, eating Bratwurst and hot dogs, taking field trips to Brookfield Zoo, and driving around everywhere on streets named after Native American tribes and people; there were good times to be had in Chicago as a kid. Sadly, we moved back to St. Louis for my father’s job, and the city I was born in became my home again.
There are a lot of things going on in my life right now, and although most of them are good, one is not. My mom was recently diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma, a form of blood cancer. It seems to be in the beginning stages, and she has had some issues that may be related to it, but otherwise she seems to be doing ok. Cancer is a pain in the ass, and it doesn’t matter which flavor it is. My hope is she will get old, bitter, and be a pain in my ass, for years to come, I know I deserve it for what I’ve put her through!
My mom (Carla if you don’t know her), has always been there for me, always supported me, always put up with me, and always been my voice of reason! You really don’t know how much someone is been there for you, till you look back and remember things they DIDN’T do for you. When I was seventeen and living on my own in St. Louis, having recently dropped out of High School and moved out on my own, I was in dire straits. I had a job, not a good job. I had just enough money to pay for shelter, my car, and one meal a day; the money for gas, more food, and other necessities was not there. My mom bailed me out of some “Checkbook Balancing Issues”, but was very pointed in that I needed to make some hard decisions; I wasn’t making it, and I could make it if I moved in with her or my dad. She could have just given me more money, knowing that I was suffering, but then I wouldn’t have changed anything. That had to be hard, knowing your son was literally hungry, being able to help, but knowing that it would just continue if she took the easy road by making my life easy. Not more than a few weeks later I had moved in with my dad, and started GED classes. The GED classed turned into being a full time college student (for a period of time), and that education put me on solid footing in the IT industry.
Did I say how smart my mom is?
My mom has always said and believed that I would make something of myself, even in my darkest hour. She knew that dropping out of high school was a bad idea, but that I would still succeed; she knew that not finishing college was a bad idea, but I would still succeed (Finally finished in 2009). She has always believed in me, and fortunately, she has always been right! She has always been a solid example to follow, always bettering herself through additional college degrees, certifications, and being driven in her career.
So tomorrow I run for my mom. My mom would love to be a part of this; to walk into the expo and feel the power of all the runners energy; to stand at the starting line at 7:30AM, the same line that the worlds elites are standing at; to eat the stale bagels at the finish and to wear that medal around your neck that says not only did you do something today, but you’ve been giving it everything for the last 16 weeks too! She would soak it all in like a sponge.
Thanks for everything mom, this one is for you! I love you very much!
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Just a few comments on this summer’s marathon training; wow that was a hot one! Thanks to my kids for putting up with another session of Marathon training, luckily you slept through most of it. I want to thank all my friends for helping me get out there and run through the heat and for being so supportive. I especially want to thank Tracy for everything over the last six months; not everyone is lucky enough to share this type of adventure together. We trained together and we will both run the same race tomorrow! I only wish I could run the last few miles of the race with you, as you did for me twice this year, but I’m thinking 26.2 is all I have! Good luck to everyone in their fall half and full marathons! I look forward to seeing many of you at mile 6 of Rock n Roll St. Louis!
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