the view from the 24th mile

For the past two years, I've had the pleasure and the honor of helping out at the Red Lizard Mile 24 aid station at the Portland Marathon. We hand out water and Ultima, pretzels and gummi bears. We've got music and a guy on a mike, encouraging the runners on, calling them out by name, joking with them.  The aid station has won the "Most Spirited" award more than once. The energy is electric.

As I stood there, cheering and encouraging people as they ran by, I couldn't help but wonder about their stories. What had brought them to this place.  The miles that had gone by.  What was driving them to keep going, or what had caused them to give up.  So many stories running past.

You see it all at mile 24.  The quiet smiles of those who know they have their goal in sight. The grimaces of those who have gone out too fast and are now paying the price.  Those out to enjoy the day, joking with their running buddies. The injured.  The nauseous.  Bloody nipples, awkward gaits, tears.  You see it all out there.

At times, I felt the tears welling up, knowing that there was nothing I could say or do to make it better for a runner in that moment.  And then the tears from the runners who couldn't help contain their excitement that they were doing well.  Having a good day.  The runners from the late corrals passing those from early corrals. Early starters far behind their peers.

One runner stands out.  She had started out with the 4:30 group that I was pacing for the first half.  Normally a Vibram 5 Fingers runner, she had chosen to wear some new Nike Frees for the race, but within a couple of miles, they were hurting.  She fell back and we continued on.  After mile 13, my buddy pacer and I started walking back to the car.  We saw her, barefoot.  Not in Vibrams.  Completely barefoot.

I saw her later coming through the aid station.  Her feet looked to be hurting, but she was still moving along, the pain clear in her eyes.  So much courage, conviction, to get through that day.  And I saw her again at the finish.  She had done it.

The marathon is an amazing event.  If you want to be encouraged by the great heart and spirit of people, spend some time near mile 24 of a marathon.  You'll see so much courage and bravery that you can't help but tear up a little.