“Running strips life back to the bare essentials. When we challenge ourselves, it breaks down barriers. It brings us back to our essence and peels away the layers of ego we surround ourselves with. Many a grown man or woman will cry during or when finishing a marathon: long regarded as the ultimate achievement in the running world. Emotions flow freely, the struggle is obvious and most of the competition is with yourself.” -Grahak Cunningham
I survived my second marathon. The experience was as incredible as the first.
I’ll be honest though. I was a bundle of nerves the days leading up to the race. More nervous than I was last year. You would think that having already done the Marine Corps Marathon once and knowing what to expect from the course, I would be less nervous. But nope.
I actually think knowing what to expect is what made me nervous. I was anticipating bathroom breaks, long lines at the porta potties, leg pains during the run, and possibly hitting the proverbial wall.
Also, my expectations were higher this time around. Last year, my only goal was to complete the race. I just wanted to cross the finish line without injury.
This year, I wanted a better time — not only a better time, I wanted to beat Oprah’s time (4:29). I was also hoping to avoid going to the bathroom. I did not achieve either goal.
But that’s ok. The race went well, and overall I am happy with how things turned out.
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Running the States 