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I write a lot of notes to all of you. This one is actually a shout out to your friends and family. Those who show up at your half marathons or marathons to support you. They cheer you on and congratulate you when you accomplish this life-changing event for which you have been training so long. They wear the neon T-shirts so you can find them, and they help us spread awareness about NF. They bundle up, find a good spot on the course and wait for quite literally hours for you to run or walk by.
I can also attest to the fact that they are, for the most part, just a little unfaithful to you too. I have caught them at almost every race cheering and encouraging thousands of runners who are ahead of you. They shout words of encouragement, ring bells and clap for hours. They even lie by telling these runners they look good, or that they’re almost done. They even cheer for those guys wearing the purple TNT shirts! Can you believe it? You should know this! Your friends and family are actually out there for hours before you get there, and probably cheering for all those people who are ahead of you. People who are going to beat you to the finish. The nerve! I hope that you will forgive them for this, but I thought that it’s my duty as your coach and director of this team to let you know what your friends and family are doing behind your back.
Honestly, I cannot say enough about the army of volunteers that I see nearly every week out there helping us spread the word about NF. Your friends and family are one amazing group of people. We all owe them so much. If you have never stood and watched a marathon waiting for a special someone, you should. It’s hard! I mean really hard. Your feet will hurt. Your hands will hurt. Your back will start to ache. You’ll get cold. Your kids will get cranky. I’m not downplaying the effort you’re putting forth. I know it’s probably the hardest thing you’ve ever done, but please know that your support crew is out there giving up their day to stand in the cold, or rain, or snow, or sometimes when we’re really lucky, sunshine, for you.
Thank them! I can’t tell you how many times I stand with families waiting for one of our teammates to come by so they can holler at the top of their lungs, jump up and down in congratulation, only to see their runner nod at them or quickly wave at them. Or, the runner throws a piece of sweaty clothing at them and then goes on plugging away towards that finish line.
Folks, I’ve got some news for you. You are probably not going to win the event. If you think you have a chance, by all means pass your family by without looking back. Don’t wave, don’t high five them, and don’t even say, “hi.” But for the rest of you, (I’d say the other 99.99% of you) take some time to acknowledge those waiting for you. High five them, stop for a picture, and give ‘em a big old sweaty hug. (Little sisters especially enjoy that big old sweaty hug.) I know you can’t stay long. You shouldn’t. BUT, take a few seconds to acknowledge those heroes who are there for you.
And another thing… You’ve trained a long time for that event. You’ve gotten up when you didn’t want to. You’ve done the long runs in the rain. You’ve done your part to get yourself to a point where you can accomplish something you probably thought you’d never do. ENJOY IT! Don’t fall into the mentality that this is the final exam. Think of it as more of the celebration after the exam is done. Relax, find your happy place and enjoy yourself.
Thanks to more than 140 runners and volunteers this past weekend at Disney World, the event was a huge success despite many challenges thrust upon us. From the magical snow in the wee hours of Saturday morning, to the rain, wind, cold temperatures, transportation issues, etc., NF Endurance proved once again that we have what it takes to ENDURE. Just as our NF heroes have to face challenges day in and day out, our teammates had to truly had to reach deep within to push beyond their limits. I must say that I am SO PROUD! It is such an honor to meet, run with, visit with and work with such an incredible team. Together we made a difference this weekend. To date we have raised $109,415 and the total continues to grow as more contributions are being posted daily. The active site will remain open through the end of the month. THANK YOU!
Disney Up and Away 5K
TEAM BUZZ about Disney that Tracy Draper collected:
“I just wanted to thank you and the other coaches that really made my first marathon more enjoyable! It was so nice to have them step in, run, encourage and distract me for those few minutes!!! I’m already looking forward to the next race.”
-J.J.
“THANKS for being so AWESOME! You do such a great job at these events and we are very blessed to have you and the entire Endurance staff working so hard! Can’t wait till next year . . . already praying for better weather! ”
- S.R.
“Thank you so much for your hard work! It was a great experience for us as a family, and we look forward to participating in more events. It was terrific meeting you, your family, and the extended NF family that are all contributing time and energy to the cause. It is a testament to your skill and dedication that things went so well.”
-M.B.
“You guys did a great job. Thanks for the support on the course, especially near the finish.”
-W.K.
“Great job done by all of you…I’ll be back!
- L.A.
“It has been a pleasure to participate in such a wonderful event. I think the whole team did pretty amazing, both on and off the course, and I was extremely impressed by everyone’s efforts…”
Over the course of 2009 I will have run 10 marathons on my way to 50. I have run most of them with the team, but some just by myself; each way brings with it a varied experience and each event offers something new and exciting. Besides learning more about myself, which comes with the price of the entry fee, I get to tour different places at eye level (like a vacation marathon), and particularly with the team events, meet some special people with big smiles and big hearts — an attitude that inspires me and a story that moves me. This fits: sometimes I like to run alone and sometimes I like to see a lot of yellow to reaffirm that I am not alone.
My best experience with “yellow” came this year at Twin Cities Marathon. At mile 24.5 the Mighty Minnesota NF Endurance Team set-up a Cheer Zone: a wall of yellow with big smiles and I am told a lot of noise (I run without a hearing aid; it’s quiet). The Cheer Zone extravaganza was planned as a Minnesota Chapter event happening with: posters, noisemakers, cheers, music, and all the volunteers and families decked out in NF Endurance Team yellow race crew shirts. At around mile 21, I caught up with Murray McCartan and his friend Steve McPherson and we passed the cheer zone together. Their daughters ran out to greet us with hugs and posters for a priceless photo op. Posters, made at the pasta dinner the night before, read, “Hurray Murray” and “Not too far.”I gave all the volunteers high-fives and headed off to the finish with a smile and tears too. Seeing a Father, along with his good friend as a running partner run for a son with NF as their so proud daughters cheer them on, is a beautiful thing …. something that lingers in the heart and mind’s eye. This image is one of the many living examples of the “be the change you wish to see in the world” idea that you may see on almost every weekend of the year with a runner wearing an NF Endurance neon yellow singlet.
The next marathon for me is in Tucson where I will make a Phoenix stopover to have a 20th birthday dinner with my own daughter, Kathleen. I’m a marathoner and an ASU Dad. I say “Go Team” and she says “Go Sundevils,” but we both say, “Life is what you make it.”
Bob works out of Denver, Colo. and works for the NF Endurance Team. He is on his way to running 50 marathons.
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