Love for the City of Love
On Nov 7, 2021, I ran the NYC marathon with my favorite cheerleader for the very last time. There he was on the sidelines of 1st Ave, on the right side, prepared to cheer me on as I entered the last 6-10 miles. Our final race outing, he as the sherpa, me as the racer. For those of you new to this storyline, it was typically reversed. Me as the sherpa, Chris racing and typically in a MUCH longer race. So this was easy street.
I had trained him well; he was oh so coachable. He knew how loud to cheer, what signs if any, were acceptable and exactly what chapstick to have at the ready. We had done this many times, I for him at all of his triathlons and him for me. I think he got the easier gig. I did spice it up this time, the elevator was broken at our hotel. He carried all of of our luggage up the stairs to the 10th floor.
Chris died on February 19, 2022. I didn't enter a race until that Thanksgiving. I laid in bed that morning and debated whether or not to go to our local Turkey Trot. I stared at our travel backpacks in the closet and thought of cooler running. Somehow I dragged myself out the door and got to the start line. I had been barely running (if you could call it that) and knew it wouldn't be pretty. I cried in the car before and after the race, no pump up music was fitting. I missed my cheerleader and sherpa; none of this was going to work. Eventually, I made it to the start line, found a friend who was so kind to let me run with her and somehow made it through. The finish wouldn't be the same, but I felt the slightest speck of grief lifting and knew I could do it again.
It's fitting that I share that I am raising funds for the Chicago marathon on Valentine's Day. It's day of love to celebrate the race in the City of Brotherly Love. I hope you will consider supporting me.
LOVE,
CRH Squared (IYKYK)