Fist Bump to All You Great People Out There
Saturday, April 17, 2010 at 10:00 AM | Dena Harris We're on our way to Boston and I just want to say a huge and heartfelt THANK YOU to all of you. Training for and running a marathon can become all absorbing and I want to take a moment to acknowledge that I would not be running if it weren't for the wonderfully encouraging and supportive people in my life. Every word of encouragement has helped. Every comment with accompanying smiley face has lifted my spirits. Every wave at fellow runners on the Greenway has made me happy to be a part of this cult group of magnificent people. The biggest benefit of running for me has been the friends made along the way. I sometimes stop and take a 3rd person view of my life and am overwhelmed at how much love and support I'm surrounded by.
Thank you and much love to my family, who are my biggest cheerleaders.
Thank you to The Blueliners, my Saturday morning running group, for all the laughs and advice and for always scoping out the spot with the best bagels and coffee.
Thanks to Lisa, who turns 50 on the day of the Boston Marathon, and who put it in my mind last summer that I needed to qualify for Boston so we could run the race together on her birthday. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
Thanks to my best friend Trisha who--although she has been around long enough to know better--believes I am capable of anything.
Thank you to the many friends in my life--you know who you are, we have coffee together on a regular basis--who keep me grounded and laughing.
Fist bumps to running pals Michael, Thad, Amy, Kay, Christine, Keith, Nathan, Iris, Josh, Royce, Marshall, Jack, Wayne, John, Pam, Lisa, Blueliners, and the MadMayo Running Club.
A shout-out to virtual training partner Katie, who found my blog and e-mailed months ago to say she was my age, running Boston, and using the same Furman FIRST training plan. We've been e-mailing almost daily and I haven't stopped laughing. We're planning on meeting the morning of the race outside my hotel. Sample Katie post:
What an idiot I’ll look like when my back woods bludgeoning by two strangers (one posing as a Boston marathon participant) details comes out in national news. What?!?—she met them on the INTERNET?!? And she just willingly followed them into the woods and didn’t ask any questions—there was NO sign of a struggle?
And finally, a huge thank you to Blair, the most patient and loving man on the planet. There aren't enough lifetimes to repay all you've given to me in this one.
Cheers!
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Reader Comments (7)
First I that post made me cry! Dena, your an awesome person, runner and friend! You are going to kick ass at Boston. Can't wait to read all about it!
It's Sunday now. Ever since I woke this morning, I've thought, a hundred times, "I wonder how Dena is feeling This Very Minute?!" And what you're seeing... and where in Boston you are... Soon enough, we'll know.
This was a lovely post.
Way to PR! Hope you're feeling good and had a great time. Well done.
Ditto what he said. Just looked up your results; so proud of you!!!
Congratulations on a successful Boston!! Ran a decent 5 k yesterday. My goal is to qualify for 2012!
Great talking with you, sweetie. You didn't even sound winded. And you beat your Chicago marathon time...OMG...you are AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Way to go! Way to go! Way to go!! You totally kicked it in Boston.
Umm....now come home and tell us about it. I would've called to congratulate you in person after checking the results except: 1) it was 5:30 in the morning and 2) I know how much you like to talk on the phone. Can't wait to hear your report!