Touch Here for Power: Alaska Mayor's Marathon

While in Alaska, we went to a Marathon. (No, I did not run it… though it was tempting, maybe one day… !) My sister, Kary, and her husband, Ray, are avid runners, and they had prepared to run in the Mayor's Marathon. It takes place in Anchorage. (The big city in Alaska.) 

It was a horribly wet and gray day, as Kary and Ray headed out from Wasilla to Anchorage super early in the morning. (An hour drive.) And it was wet and pouring rain for most of the Marathon. My mom and I drove into Anchorage a little bit later, with some of the kids, so we could be their cheerleaders at mile 18. (Many people "hit the wall" at mile 18.) We were there with signs, and to hand Kary and Ray off some special items, such as clothing, drinks, and pickle juice for Ray. (Nasty!)

We got to mile 18 early enough that we could see the very front runners. It was very inspirational. They were many minutes ahead of everyone else. Puddle… what puddle? They just flew through it like nothing… these guys were fast!  

The kids were so excited to stand on the sidelines, and cheer for all the runners. McKinley, my sister's daughter, would not move from her spot. She was determined to stand there, and hold her sign. 

Here comes Ray! If you ever wondered what an Ultra-Marathon runner looks like… you are looking at one! The week before this marathon, Ray ran an Ultra-Marathon. He ran for over 12 hours straight, and over 50 miles in one day. Why, you ask? Apparently, if you have to ask "why" then you will never understand the answer. Ray has become a super-hero. A few years ago, Ray had serious issues with his back -- a ruptured disc -- and he could barely walk straight. He had surgery, and serious pain, for a long time. But he was determined not to give in to being broken, and now… well, he has overcome! And this once broken man is now defying his body, and running longer than most humans will ever run… Pretty, darn, amazing. Way to go Ray! If you are broken… don't give up! Never give up! Show your body who is boss!

 He stopped briefly to kiss his kids… Stephen and McKinley.

 Woo! Mile 18… Ray is just getting warmed-up, and ready to run 50 more!

He told me to take a picture of "this" and then he slapped his bum… and gave his famous Ray cheese smile. I was just a young girl -- I think I was 11 -- when Kary and Ray got married. I have known this guy for a long time…

You can see how wet it was -- not fun running weather. It was so inspirational to watch people carry on in the rain. Ray doesn't care about the elements, though… he has run marathons in sub-freezing Alaskan temperatures. He has the ability to shut-out everything around him and just go -- I have got to learn that kind of focus!

There were some other cheerleaders next to us, and they had made this "Touch Here for Power" sign. When they left they gave it to us to hold. It is an amazing sign, and if I ever go to other events, I will make one to bring. So many people would see it, smile, and touch it, and carrying on with a bounce in their step. Some people would see it from the other side of the trail, and run all the way over to touch the sign. It was so fun to watch. It was a great pick-me-up for the runners. And it was so fun to connect with people like that. The runners would often touch the sign and make the sound, "POW!" or say, "Thanks, buddy!"

I learned that people need cheerleaders. People need POWER from others, encouraging them to continue. And not just to keep running… but to continue on in life! We all have to keep moving forward -- no matter what we are going through! What kind of "POWER SIGNS" can you create to help other people keep going?

 "POW!"

 Awesome.

My Mile of the Marathon...

I do not have any pictures of my sister Kary at mile 18. As soon as I saw her, she was running past us, without stopping, and she was yelling that she needed her drink. She yelled it, crying, and she kept running. "I need it! I need it!" she said through tears. I thought as quickly as I could. It was up to me to get it to her! Luckily, I had my running pants and shoes on, so I dropped my big camera on the ground (this proves my love for Kary), I grabbed her bottle, and without my shoes being tied properly -- I took off into the running crowd.

As I ran, everyone around the area cheered for me, and encouraged me to run fast and help her. I ran as fast as I could, dodging puddles and people, and eventually I caught up with her. I had just told my mom that morning that I had pulled my hamstring while running sprints with Kary earlier in the week,  so I would not be running that day. But that was beside the point in that moment -- Kary needed me! I ignored the pain, and as we ran together -- me at my 1st mile, and Kary at mile 18 -- we talked, and cried together, and gimped along.

Kary said she never cries during marathons, but when she saw me there holding my sign, she lost it. There I was -- a few months after losing my husband -- encouraging others to continue. I was holding a sign that said, "Remember who you are!" What was even more interesting, is that it felt REALLY GOOD to be cheering others on. It somehow washed my own pain away… while clapping, cheering and encouraging others -- I felt happy!

I ran with Kary for a mile, at which point I had to turn back, since I was getting too far away from my family, and my ride -- I thought about running the rest of the marathon with her, but there was no way to communicate that to my mom. I had to leave my sister, alone, to carry on by herself -- that was really hard to do, but I knew she was not really alone. (Kary is really close to Jesus.) And I had to turn back and run backwards into the marathon runners.

As I turned around to run back, I had a really interesting experience. I felt the desire to just encourage everyone I saw. In a very uncharacteristic like manner, I would shout-out to random strangers, "You can do it!" "You got this!" "You are Awesome!" and I would smile, clap, and give thumbs-up to everyone I passed. It helped that I was wearing a shirt with a big smiley face on it. It was amazing how people with their heads down would perk-up with some encouragement. It was also funny when some people would smile and say, "Hey, you are going the wrong way!" Yep, I knew that. Man, I wanted to keep going with my sister…

I made it back to my family and the car, and we headed towards the finish line, downtown.

As we waited, it was inspiring to be around so many people who had just overcome many, many, miles of running in the rain. I watched others as they crossed the finish line. I saw a lady cross the finish in pink spandex who fell to the ground crying. And I saw another man who did a side-jump-kick at the end, and then fell and blew-out his knee. (Ouch!) The finish line is a pretty uplifting, and fascinating, place to be.

What I really loved was seeing these shirts at the finish line… they were the volunteers helping with water, and passing out medals at the end. Very appropriate job for them, if you ask me.

This lady in particular was so fun to watch… she is so beautiful, and happy.

Way to help, Mormon Missionaries!

We also happened to see some old friends from a distance, they disappeared before we could get to them, but I got them with my long lens… Recognize them, Melinda? ;-) 

We missed Ray at the finish line, but we were in time for Kary… (She is in the purple jacket.) 

Giving hugs to her son, Stephen.

Getting her medal from a missionary. She told the missionary, "The Church is true!" (And it is!)

A well-deserved medal… running a Marathon in the rain is not for wimps.

Ray finding Kary at the finish line…

The Mormon Elders passing out water and high-fives.

Kary and Ray smiling every mile.

Kary and Ray are an inspiration! It was awesome to be there, with them. Loved it!

Kary is one of my favorite people on the planet. Perhaps it is because we are sisters, or perhaps it is because we share the same blood type of B+ (we say our blood type is to remind us to Be Positive!), so our connection runs super deep. But being around Kary, for me, is like being around joy. Maybe it is because she used to change my diapers, and she was a second mother to me (she is 12 years older than me). Whatever it is, I am grateful that she is my sister. When I am with her, I can talk about anything and everything, and we just have so much fun. She is perhaps the only person I am truly myself around… we even do the snorting-laugh when we are together -- you know, pure happiness that comes out your nose.

Kary is amazing. When I ran up to her at mile 18, that is all I could say, I had no other words. I just kept saying, "Kary, you are amazing!" Because she is! A few years ago, I was getting phone calls from her, and she was wondering if she could make it another day. She was sick. So sick. She was diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue. She went from being an energetic Physical Education teacher, to being thrown flat on her back from weariness, and fatigue. It was so sad to see her in that condition -- so unlike her normal peppy-self.

But she never quit. She could not run, so she would walk. She would walk for just a little bit each day, despite her weariness. Her story is amazing and I am hoping she will share more of it on her blog, eventually. But from what I know, she went from sickness and chronic fatigue, to running marathons -- and to me, that is AMAZING!!!!

YOU ARE AMAZING KARY!!!!!!

(If you would like to view Kary's blog go to: www.karyskorner.blogspot.com. She is going to start blogging more often... right Kary? :-) )

The guy in the shorts kept finding his way into our pictures… 

As Kary likes to say, "Smile every Mile!" 

*Just a reminder that your comments are welcome -- even if you don't know me personally -- as long as they are nice comments. :-)   

Thanks! - Mari