Marathon Reflections
26.2 back to self
With each mile the lady Marathon peels the layers of the runner, humbling the ego and dimming the rational mind, delivering only the athlete's core to the inviting finishing chute.
With the view of the finish and support from all around the senses are heightened and a flood of mixed emotions rush in. A sense of belonging sets in.
At the end of the 26.2 mile journey and the line is being crossed time slows for a moment and the runner is offered a glimpse of the core self. Peace, compassion, gratitude, oneness. Home.
That fleeting moment of pure and vulnerable humanity stays long after the sore feet. The experience creates a longing that keeps on calling. And the runner yearns to respond, journey anew and visit, once again.
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26.2 miles of NYC
It was cold and muddy at the Staten Island staging area. The long wait before the start, a first test of one's mental training. The gun goes off. -This is it; I'm finally running the NYC Marathon! Shaken by over 40,000 runners, the Verrazano bridge looks taller than usual and reserves at the end of its climb a panoramic view of NYC, seducing one's mind into thinking of the finish line somewhere down in the distance.
New Yorkers and visitors from all corners of the world are out across the 5 boroughs for a city-wide party today. Food, drinks, music, posters, lots of cheers and high-fives. The streets and smells, the diversity of people and colors, both in and out of the race, make it is all very real. Physical and mental readiness are the merciless and non-discriminating equalizers.
The crowd's energy in Brooklyn and 1st Avenue makes every participant feel like a champion, no matter the pace.
The Bronx comes along with the looming thought of giving in to 'the wall', but today's outcome is non-negotiable. Mind over Miles; Will over Reason. Central Park; Deep breaths of cool air digging for any energy left. There is no stopping now. The Finish line is near and just waiting to be crossed.
26.2 Miles. 4:32:00
Insanity to some; Bliss to others. A personal experience of the universally available human potential for change and achievement.
There is a peaceful warrior inside each of us just waiting to be awakened and I've met it today. It had many faces, shapes, colors, names and numbers. It was an honor.
Marco Bombardi
"We would accomplish many more things if we did not think of them as impossible." ~Vince Lombardi
