Yesterday marked a goal realized for me; it was the first time I ran The Honolulu Marathon.
Having never done a marathon before, my goal was to run a half; 13.1 miles (or 21.08km if that’s your preferred measurement). Not something the event officially offers; your choices are a quarter-marathon (10k) or the whole thing, and so pursuing my goal meant that once I reached the 13.1 miles I’d set my eye on I had to get back to the finish. Thus altogether I ended up having a 20 mile day.
I felt such a mix of emotions after my last mile was run (and yes, they accompanied two very weary legs), and as I sat later in the evening trying to put them to words our virtues came to mind for me again. Among them, faith, vitality, and joy seemed to particularly suit with generous splashes of wonder for that time between the 13th mile and the 20th one!
Pursuing those goals you have set your heart on, and working through the achieving of them must be a virtuous act, don’t you think? We have called our list of virtues “nouns begging our action to make them verbs” and spoken of how they require courage and the “disposition of man’s powers directing them to some goodness of act.”
I’ve never quite thought of goal-setting in this way before, as the potential to bring more virtue into your life, and I like that thought very much! So today, with my first try at the Honolulu Marathon now part of my personal history it is time to set a new goal, level my sights on the achievement of more virtuous acts.
Perhaps I can do the full marathon next year? Just six and a half more miles.
Rosa, congratulations! What a great achievement.
Posted by: Joanna Young | December 15, 2008 at 08:11 AM
I'm pretty sure if you set the full marathon as your goal, you will do it. Congratulations on this year's goal reached!
Posted by: Fran Magbual | December 15, 2008 at 12:21 PM
Wow, Rosa! Congratulations! I know you'll make it all the way next time!
P.S. Although, I have to say... if that picture is you, I'm a bit surprised they let you run topless. Great back muscles though!!! ;)
Posted by: Jamie Grove - How Not To Write | December 15, 2008 at 01:17 PM
Rosa, well done! The marathon is definitely within reach. Everyone who does it has their story to tell but everyone who does it actually takes one stride at a time.
Posted by: Steve Sherlock | December 16, 2008 at 02:42 AM
Rosa, how inspirational to see you taking your running to another level! Your story brought back such a memory for me. When I was several decades younger (like three!) I once accompanied my then-husband who was running half of the Allen's Park to Estes Park marathon in the Rocky Mountains. For him it was a training race for the Mt Evans hill climb to 14,000 feet he would do later in the season. I decided I could handle the 10K despite the altitude and it would be more fun than spending my morning just waiting.
Somehow when I got to the 10K mark on a beautiful summer Colorado day in the mountains, I simply didn't feel like having the day end there. I kept running, up and over a mountain pass. I've always been a slow runner but a super strong up-hill hiker, which to my surprise meant that the steepness and altitude worked in my favor.
The last two miles before the half-marathon finish were slightly downhill. There was a guy in tiny, shiny yellow shorts just in front of me and I fixed my sights on him. He went faster. I went faster. My then-spouse looked up from where he was waiting for transportation back to the start to see what everyone was cheering and clapping about, just in time to see me flying across the line next to Yellow Shorts.
Thanks for bringing back that feeling of faith, vitality, joy and wonder, as you so beautifully expressed it!
Posted by: Beth Thoma Robinson | December 16, 2008 at 07:21 AM
Thank you everyone! The legs are just about back to normal today (can even go down stairs again :) and so I am feeling even better. To share this with all of you is icing on the cake for me --- so sweet and delicious!
Mahalo for sharing your story too Beth - how fabulous! More serendipity to talk about when we get together for lunch again :)
Posted by: Rosa Say | December 16, 2008 at 03:17 PM
You, go, Rosa! Congratulations on the achievement. I have my sights set on a marathon in 2009, too. I look forward to reading about your prep and experience - it's quite an undertaking!
Posted by: lisa haneberg | December 16, 2008 at 05:46 PM
Oh great Lisa! It will be fantastic to work with you on a mrathon-ing goal in the coming year, we can coach each other.
I know that Aaron is in too...http://kiwirunner.co.nz
Anyone else?
Posted by: Rosa Say | December 17, 2008 at 08:35 AM
Well done Rosa ! You should be proud !
Posted by: Kel | December 19, 2008 at 06:44 PM
Thanks so much Kel, must say it did feel great :)
Posted by: Rosa Say | December 19, 2008 at 09:32 PM