"Cherish each moment every day, they will become your cherished memories tomorrow."
After my Dad passed away I was spiraling down into a deep hole of endless tears. It was such a difficult time for me. There were two things that pulled me out of this hole - finishing my Masters (I only had the second half of my Student Teaching left and one course) and raising money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society which included participating in a full marathon. The training for this race helped me tremendously. My father was such a determined inspirational man! He always finished what he started. I wanted him to see me training hard for this marathon and accomplishing something I had never done before. Each day I knew I had to get out of bed (as difficult as it was because I missed him so much) and train. As I ran and tired out I would think of him and how he always pushed through things. I felt him with me with each step I took. The marathon itself was quite an experience! I had hurt my left knee by the 11th mile and the doctor (on a moped) told me I should stop at the half marathon mark. I thanked him and told him I would be finishing the full marathon. My right knee also gave out by the 18th mile, but I pushed on as my father would. I know he was running by my side the entire time! I did finish the entire 26.2 mile marathon and it is one of the most fantastic cherished moments in my life!
Bermuda 1999
What an amazing and inspirational accomplishment!
ReplyDeleteI hope you guys had a wonderful weekend!
KareyEllen
KareyEllenDesigns.blogspot.com
Such a great and inspiring story! Thank you so much for sharing!
ReplyDeleteWow!!! I have only dreamed of doing a marathon that long. You are amazing. What a wonderful story=)
ReplyDeleteHi Mama Hen! I am soooo far behind on my blog reading - ahh! I swear these Branson pictures are going to send me over the edge - ha! :-) I so enjoyed looking at the pictures from your last few posts. You and Little Chick are the CUTEST!! :-) Adorable pictures!
ReplyDeleteAbout the camera...I started with the Canon Rebel XSI, and I think it's a great camera. There are other (models? - is that the word?), but you might look into the Rebels. They are very good! Right now I have the Canon 5D Mark II, but depending on your use of it, that might not be necessary. The image quality on the Rebel is great. Let me know if you have any questions as you begin looking, and I'll be happy (or try) to help!!
Thank you so much for your sweet comment about my macro pictures. Those were SO FUN! :-) Your comments always put a big smile on my face - thank you! And it's funny, we're always the last 2 to sign off every night, aren't we? - LOL!
Have a great evening!
finishing a 26.2 mile marathon is really an achievement in itself, but going through all that with injured knees is truly something! i wish i could do something like that..you look gorgeous in the photo Mama Hen! =)
ReplyDeleteWhat an accomplishment! Do you think you'll do another marathon again one day?
ReplyDeleteI love that picture! Congrats on an incredible achievement and an even more incredible tribute to your father.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this beautiful post!
ReplyDelete( I'm a full-time mummy )
What a heart-felt post! That IS a cherished moment! I won't be able to participate in the Monday, but hopefully next week!
ReplyDeleteTruly inspiring. It's amazing that you were able to finish the race, not only because that's a really hard thing to do, but because you did it while grieving.
ReplyDeleteMama Hen-Even though I don't know you personally, I wouldn't have expected anything less. Kudos for finishing what you started-so many opportunities to give up; yet you stayed the course and accomplished what you set out to do. We all could learn a lesson from that. You go girl! -EW
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your accomplishment.I felt the same way when my dad passed away not too long ago. The only thing that kept me going was that I wasn't going to have my kids lose their mom along with their grandfather (whom they spent every weekend with when my hubby was working nights and weekends). I saw my cousin sink in a deep hole after my uncle died and her kids lost her also. I didn't want that to happen to my kids too. I am amazed at the stamina you had to make it so far!
ReplyDeleteMama Hen, congratulations on your accomplishment! i'm sure your dad must be smiling down at you and feeling very proud of you.
ReplyDeletei understand what it means to miss daddy. i too am very attached to my dad. he stays miles away in a countryside where there's no internet and proper phone facilities.many times i when i hurt i would think of him and cry... longing to be held and comforted by him.
i always enjoy reading your posts. you are an inspiration!!
Underneath His Wrapping
That is really beautiful. I have had the pleasure of having many experiences where it was confirmed that our passed loved ones never stop loving us and being with us. Thank you for reminding me of that. Blessings!!
ReplyDeleteSo inspirational and heartfelt. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteCompleting your race was such a sweet tribute to your dad! I miss my mom so much...even after 6 years...I would love to hear her voice and just sit, talk and be with her...
ReplyDelete& thank you for your part in supporting the L&L foundation. Our son is a childhood cancer survivor...of Burkitt's-like B cell lymphoma. I mention this on my previous post about a few of his original songs and will write more about that challenging time in a post in the future...
Blessings & Aloha!
thank you for stopping by, following and commenting :o) I'm following you back. ...also...you have the cutest lil chick :o)
Bravo!! How inspiring. Your writing touched my heart. My Dad passed away early in my life and I know what it is to make grieve your driving energy. Loved your post.
ReplyDeleteThat is such an amazing accomplishment! Very inspiring post Mama Hen! :) Happy Monday to you and Little Chick.
ReplyDeleteI love that you draw strength and inspiration through grief. You dad is so proud of you and I'm sure that he is smiling down on you and little chick every day!
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing accomplishment. Your father was looking down on you, SO very proud. Must have been an incredible moment crossing the finish line? Very emotional. Thank you for sharing that story- you had me in tears. Your father sounds like an amazing man. I have always wanted to do a marathon. Think you'll ever do it again?!
ReplyDeleteCrossing that finish line must have been an amazing moment! I'm impressed.
ReplyDeleteSO Sorry about your Dad and congrats on your accomplishment. Your dad would be proud of you :)
ReplyDeleteFollowing you :)
Frenchy
That is just so wonderful!!!! I really had a hard time after my dad died too. It took me about two years to come out of a funk.
ReplyDeleteWow...we are alike in many ways. I started running after losing my father to cancer. I am signed up for my first 1/2 marathon in September.
ReplyDeleteAren't Dads great...they continue to inspire their little girls to go outside of the realm of what they think is possible...outside their comfort zone...and push themselves further everyday.
To our Dads...who are smiling down on us every day!
So inspirational! I'm sure you dad is just so proud of you!
ReplyDeleteWhat an accomplishment! That is such an inspiring story! Your dad has to be so proud of you, not just for that, but for everything you have become!
ReplyDeleteThat's great! You look so happy and to have accomplished that in Bermuda is very cool!
ReplyDeleteAmazing you ran a 26.2 mile marathon!
ReplyDeleteI can't even walk up the stairs without catching my breath.
I'm sure you're dad would've been proud and cheering you on somewhere up above.
Wow how amazing! You are inspirational, Mama :)
ReplyDeleteThis post is so inspirational!! Good for you for doing accomplishing such a big challenge!
ReplyDeleteGreat job Mama! I also ran 26.2 about two years ago 5 months after my daughter was born. My knee also gave out but I kept going ;) I know how huge of an accomplishment it is. New follower here ;)
ReplyDeleteCongrats on finishing the marathon, I am sure your dad would be very proud of you. You should be proud of yourself also, one of my favorite causes to raise money for.
ReplyDeleteEmily @ http://456eleven.com