#24 Run a race

As you know from last year's challenge, I got injured in 2009 running a half marathon and have been very scared to run since.  Last year I ran a 5K with my brother-in-law, and felt like I could finally start running again.

So this year, my goal was to #24 Run another race of longer distance than a 5K... but then the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing happened, and I got invited to participate in the first annual 9/11 Memorial Run/Walk on behalf of my firm, and it just clicked.

This would be my race.

The Boston Marathon bombings were horrific for many... I couldn't imagine training for months and almost completely 26.2 miles to be cut short.  I couldn't imagine my friends and family coming to cheer me on only to have their lives cut short or lose a limb.

But the bombings didn't scare me, or many other runners out there, from ever running again.  In fact, I went running that night.  And then again later in the week.

And, on Sunday, April 21, I ran in solidarity for Boston, and in memorium of the 2800+ people who lost their lives on September 11, 2001.

My friend Elizabeth also ran with me!

Elizabeth runs on a frequent basis, but I kept cautioning here that I might need to stop.  I hadn't run 3.1 miles without stopping since 2009, and I didn't want to push my body/bones and end up injured, again.

But I was so inspired by the beautiful day, the NYPD, SWAT teams and bomb-sniffing dogs every 20 yards, as well as memories of Boston and 9/11, that I didn't want to stop.  I didn't want to let anyone down.  Those people could no longer do it, but I would do it for them.

At the finish line, which is a ladder from an FDNY fire truck!!!!

So we ran 3.1 miles without stopping, at a ~10 minute/mile pace, finishing in 31 minutes.  At Mile 1, mile 1.5, and mile 2, I kept thinking about stopping and walking for a minute, and how I didn't want to push my body that much, but I kept reminding myself that I felt fine.  I felt great, in fact.  The old endorphin feeling came back. And I just kept going, inspired by police officers applauding for me, when I should be applauding for them, as they were guarding us and keeping us safe.

Elizabeth and I at the finish, with the new Freedom Tower behind us (poor lighting!)

As I crossed the finish line, I raised my arms high above my head, feeling proud at completing my own personal challenge.

Afterwards, we visited the 9/11 Memorial.  And can I just say, SO WELL DONE.  This memorial and museum are still under construction, but the sense of sadness, awe, and remembrance are present.

In the footprint of each of the fallen towers is a fountain that makes you feel like it is bottomless:

Along the pool, every single person that perished on 9/11, as well as in the WTC bombings in 1993, are etched into steel.  I walked the perimeter, just reading the names of so many people, thinking about them and their lives - how many people must have loved them.  There were several instances of "... and her unborn child" attached to the name of a woman.  Powerful, and so incredibly sad.

Visiting the memorial after running in memorium of those that were needlessly killed was an incredible experience, one that reinforced all the reasons why I chose to ran. 

And so this challenge, one that started 9 months ago, before I even knew there would be a memorial race, or that the Boston bombings would happen, was perfectly fulfilled in a powerful and meaningful way.  Crazy how life works out sometimes...