by Chris Naylon, Guest Blogger

I started running at age 40. I had my children when I was quite young. Now they were off doing their own thing, leaving me with a great deal of time to fill and a changing body that could stand a roadblock to prevent further damage.

My cousin Lori and I lived by each other. We decided to start running together. Neither one of us is what you would think of as an athlete. We would run a few blocks and “high-5” each other if we made it, than we would walk awhile and run again.

We decided if we made it running for a whole month we could justify purchasing actual running shoes. Ever the bargain hunters, we bought the same shoes because they were on sale two-for-one. We were excited to get going with real shoes.

We started running in late March and bought our shoes in June. Lori was diagnosed with breast cancer soon after. I was waiting for her to come over so we could take off for our evening run. She was late. I noticed she drove to my house instead of walking. She was obviously upset. In the past, Lori had had several breast cysts, all of which turned out to be nothing. Not this time. After further testing, she was diagnosed with breast cancer.

We kept running together when Lori felt well and did our first Race for the Cure in May of 2000. I lost my first running partner and dearest cousin and friend in September of 2003. She demonstrated strength many times over those years in many ways. I thought of her constantly as I ran “our” routes for years after. Strength, strength, strength. I saw it every day in her fight to keep living.

A few years later, I joined a gym where I met a wonderful group of friends. I am sure Lori sent them to me. These folks were athletes!! They introduced me to distance running. I became hooked on the longer runs, finding that I was better at distance then I was at shorter runs. And running with friends makes the time go by with laughter or shared misery.

Distance running makes you dig deep and find a source of strength that is very affirming. It also provides the opportunity to be outside appreciating what is going on around you. Do you ever have that sinking feeling when a beautiful day goes by and you were too busy and missed it? Running gets you right out there seeing, smelling, living. Even running in light rain is wonderful - it smells even better and keeps you cool. I always think on those not so fair days: I could have written this day off and missed it if I were not a runner. It almost seems sinful to let our life go by and not be a part of the day before us.

This year, my new running group of five decided to do a spring marathon. We chose the Inaugural Minneapolis Marathon. We found a workout plan and worked it and worked it!!!. We trained for four months - speed work, hills, long runs. This is where it takes real strength to keep it up when you are tired and busy with life’s other plans for you. One of the group leaders had to back out due to physical problems. He has always been the heart of our group. We missed him, but kept going with him cheering from the sidelines and running with us when he could.

I read: “The scariest thing about your first marathon is not the hills or the miles it is the unknown. “ I worried about the last four miles, they were the unknown. Our longest training run was 22 miles. Where was I going to find the strength for those last four miles? I was confident I would run those first 22 without too much trouble and see where it brought me. I had always been able to meet the weekly increase in mileage so I hoped this would be no different. I wanted to finish in four hours and based on my training times it was possible. But that is the thing about marathons, all your training, all your best laid plans and goals are subject to change.

The first five miles went by like a wonderful dream. I loved it. I felt great. It was a beautiful day. Family and friends were there to cheer us on. Soon after mile five, the anxiety started. This was way too early!!! I had planned for this. I just thought it would happen later in the race! Dig a little deeper and start up the ipod with the motivational music!! It bought me some time.

I had broken the run up mentally into four stages. With two stages behind me, the anxiety started to set in again. I could feel the fear creeping in and talked to my running partner Terry about it. Of our group, he has the most experience and knowledge about running. “Just hang in there, you will be fine, we have done this before,” he told me over and over.

My knee started hurting after the third stage with seven miles still to go. It was all it took. I lost my focus, my mental game. Suddenly that final stretch seemed impossible. I started to cry, and it is hard to run and cry. I passed my family again. They knew I was hurting. My dad looked at me and I could read his mind. He said, “You do not need to do this for anyone of us, stop if you need to.”

I really thought about doing just that. I tried to keep focused on my list of good thoughts. Lori being one of them. Would she have run with us? What would she have thought of me now?

Adversity certainly had the upper hand and I could feel myself caving. Gary, my friend who was unable to run this race with us, jumped in and ran along side of me, talking to me about all I had done to get this far. He would not give up on me. We walked a bit and ran when I could. He pushed me to keep moving. He also encouraged the spectators to cheer for me: “Hey everyone here is Chris. It is her first marathon doesn’t she look great!” I certainly knew I did not look great. Damn I would get him later for this!!!

He ran with me to mile 25 then went back to support the others in our group. I made it that last mile on my own and actually felt reasonably good. I crossed the finish line at 4:19.

(Chris is second from the left.)

It was a journey. One I think about a great deal and am still learning from. I think about my tough patch with regret. Wondering what I could have done differently. Wishing I could trade my last mile for mile 19, it would have made more sense, but life does not always make sense. I had lost my focus and found it with the help of my friends and family. Mostly, I find myself grateful that I found the strength to not give up.

I continue to learn from the marathon, where my weaknesses are and my strengths. How these challenges hold answers for me in other aspects of my life. What I may do differently next time in training, race day strategy or in life. That is the surprise about running; it gives you so much back.

Next word? How about imagine…. If I was able to do this “imagine” what I might be able to do next!

Chris Naylon is a dental hygienist. When she is not running, she loves to read and spend time with her kids. Chris bought her first Empoword tee shirt in May of 2008. What word? Strength, of course.