65 days; 52.4 miles

In the next 65 days, I am scheduled to run 2 half-marathons and 1 full-marathon:
3 races
3 cities
2 countries
52.4 race miles 

I have been looking forward to these three events for months, and each for its own reasons:
   One race is a fairly flat course that benefits military support organizations. I have been looking forward to running this in honor of my brother, who is currently deployed, and I have been training for and hoping for a personal record on this race course.
   One race is in the mountains. I am not even considering a PR on this course, but I have long been looking forward to the beauty of the course and the friendliness of the Canadians whose neighborhoods the course explores. And upon completion of this race, I am looking forward to a wonderful weekend getaway with my husband nestled in the beauty of the Canadian mountains.
   One race is a check mark--my first marathon. To be run with tens of thousands of other runners through the streets of endless cheering fans. When I first began training for this bucket list item, I had the "now or never" mentality; as I have immersed myself into training for this event and have befriended other runners, I am hoping this won't be a "once and done" event for me.

I have made friends within the running community. I have volunteered at running events. I have celebrated with others as they have accomplished a personal running goal. I have mourned with some as an injury has prevented them from training and event participation. I have been inspired by those who travel the world and plan their vacations around running events and by those who have run so many marathons and half-marathons they have lost count. (Although we all know that somewhere they have kept track!) And I have inspired others to get off the couch and lace up. We all start somewhere. We all celebrate each other's victories and accomplishments. For an individual sport, there is an undeniable sense of unity--there truly is a running community, a running family.

Nothing or no one can take that away. So even though these races now have a whole new meaning, I will press on. I will run to show that my spirit is not broken. I will run to show that we are united. I will run for those who are not able to run. 52.4 race miles...it's not just me and the road...it's me and the spirit of thousands...