53 Years and 5 Hours

Today I am grateful for time to sit outside this morning and for fresh perspective in the fresh first hours of a fresh new day.

Special thoughts and prayers go out to my sister Mary Jo as she undergoes another round of
chemotherapy today.

In this digital age, pictures abound and photographers do too. We appreciate those hired to take pictures along our marathon routes. We look forward to seeing how and where we were captured. We like to pick out one photo from each marathon to keep and remind us of that particular event and day. It also serves as motivation to keep going, keep moving, keep physical health high on our priority list.

We’ll get an email encouraging us to take a look and purchase, with a free download perhaps thrown in. Often we’ll critique a photo for capturing us at the wrong time, mid-stride, a little off kilter, not flattering. Yet, we usually get some we like, like these two from Sunday:

 

(Paul D Manke Photography)

Darcy is nearing the finish and I am somewhere in the middle miles.  For someone who never used to like mirrors or who she saw reflected back, I have come to much more acceptance of my physical body and what it looks like. It has been an important part of my recovery and healing; first from active alcoholism, to marriage and motherhood, and cancer treatment and surgeries. 

I arrive at grace and gratitude yet again. Darcy and I are both deeply appreciative of our overall health and being able to run. We are 53 years old. It took us both over 5 hours to complete the Fox Cities Marathon. It's a great feeling. It took hard work. We have each other and many endorphins among other things that keep us motivated, keep us challenging ourselves. 

Life journeys of 53 years and counting, striving to live in the present. Five hours of covering 26.2 miles, a stride at a time. Keeping it simple can be pretty profound. 

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