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Let me tell you my Publix Marathon Story:

This one was a tough one but I learned something.

What am I to Do?!

Waking up the morning of the race at about 5:00am (so I thought), I got myself together in about 30mins and I was out the door to the train station in College Park, about 15 mins away from my friend’s house. After finding a place to park at the station I finally made it to the platform at, by my Samsung phone it read 6:04am, still with enough time to get to the race check my bags in and get in my coral.  As I prepared my playlist in my iPhone I noticed that the time was actually 7:04am.  Well the race starts at 7, and I’m still 20 mins away.  What I realized is my Samsung didn’t update the time an hour ahead like my iPhone had.  I immediately get anxious (what am I to do?). I thought about going back because there is no way I’m going to make it, “They have surely closed the start line”.  After some convincing myself to at least go and see what happens, I hop on the train.

Others out there like YOU

Exiting the train I run into someone else, Ryan an older man, tall, maybe in his 60’s, who also is late.  I could tell he was relieved to see he wasn’t the only one that was late, I surely was relieved. Misery does love company.  We talked and it was apparent that we both were very embarrassed but if we made it this far there is no need to quit at this point. After asking a few people for directions, we struck out in haste to get to the start line. Arriving at the start line Ryan starts but I have to check my bags and take the required bathroom break.  I ended up starting at about 7:50.  Embarrassed, anxious and a little broken however I had trained for this and I wasn’t prepared to just quit.

After asking for directions, by this time no one is on the route, I strike out…alone (except for the guy on the bike who was looking for the route himself to find his kids) and unaware of what to expect or if I can figure out the route.  So I pulled out my IPhone and pulled up the course map (which had very few street names) and used that to the best of my ability.

Miles 1-3 were fairly easy to follow but by the time I make it past the 3rd mile marker I was confused on the route. I run about a quarter mile off course and I run into the guy on the bike, we are both lost.  We stop for a moment and figure the course out together and then we are off.  

Now mind you I’m still using the course map on my phone to run this course, stopping from time to time just to make sure I’m on track. About mile marker 5 I’m lost again but I notice a guy running and he has a race number on, wow, there is someone else out here with me.  I catch up to him and low and behold he is from the area and has run the course before! Awesome, I’m back in the race!

Stepping out on Faith

We run together till the Half Marathon/Marathon split.  But the course staff dude tells me “At this point it’s so late in the race we are diverting everyone to the Half route because the Marathon course has been taken up and there is no one past this point to help you follow the course. Determined, I ask the Sherriff and the course staff person to point me in the direction of the marathoners and they did… reluctantly.  I strike out, nervous and not quite sure if it is a good idea to do so. Too prideful to admit defeat I continue. 

He, the course staff dude, was right; there was nothing to indicate that runners had been there, for the next 3 miles or so I’m running blind, getting off track a few times here and there then finding the course again.  Mentally it was tough “should I turn around”?

But then something awesome happens, I stop to ask a resident what direction the runners went, she pointed me in the direction I was going, in the direction of “the police officers” directing race traffic.  I thought to myself “I thought the course staff dude said there wasn’t anyone out here anymore”. 

Well about mile 13 or so I started catching up to people.  Mile 17 I catch up to Ryan (the guy front the subway).  He tells me “man I can’t believe you caught up, way to go Noah”! Mile 21ish I catch up with the guy on the bike, he is with his children walking up this massive hill, he says “man I can’t believe you stuck in there you are doing an awesome job keep on pushing”…and I do.

I finally make it to the finish line to the cheers of people I don’t know encouraging me to finish strong, seemingly cheering for me and me alone.  Crossing the finish line, emotionally I’m overwhelmed mainly because I thought about quitting or taking the shorter route but in a split second decision I didn’t.  I’m not sure why I didn’t quit… other than my goal was for 26.2 and not zero or 13.1.

Finishing time Unofficially- 4:56 

What I learned from this one:

-Start anyway 

-There are others out there just like you

-People will help you along the way

-Some people will try and change your course but don’t listen

-Stepping out on faith is scary

-You will catch up to those on the same course and pass some of them but know that you are encouraging them

-Even people you don’t know are cheering for you

-finish what you started

Steve’s hands were rough and dry and torn. Weathered from a career of hooking up a snow plow for the last 20 years. His stretch of road was Highway 1792, It was forty miles of road that could kill you if you weren’t careful. He had seen a lot of things on this old road. Pleasant things and not so pleasant things. He’d seen people coming and going and he often thought many times he should just keep on driving till he ran out of gas. He didn’t have the guts to do that so he stayed. He’d seen people stuck. He’d seen people pushed to the side. He didn’t know why but the road made him think about his own marriage and his own life. Usually his nights spilled over into the morning, Milwaukee had some brutal weather, this year was no different. He would catch evening rush hour and morning traffic but not tonight. This night the snow fell easy, it pushed itself down past his windshield and down onto the road, creating a gray and wet and black slush. Tonight was an easy night, so he called Tracey and left a message on voicemail that he was headed home
By the time he got there Tracey was long gone and the house was quiet. Steve noticed a note on the door;
“I’ll be working tonight, see you later”
He thought that was an odd place to leave a note for him. He noticed the note had little flakes of glitter stuck to it but he paid it no mind. Tracey worked at a children’s hospital so it probably was from some toy or kraft project.
Steve actually felt a pleasant relief to have the place all to himself; he opened the door and the house smelled sweet all about. This was Steve’s second rushed marriage and he had not had time to breath from the first. He felt he needed someone and was scared to be alone in this world but he loved being alone when he wanted to and hated being alone when he wanted company. He wanted this world and that world. Steve had gotten used to falling asleep in his chair, in his work clothes, fuzzy slippers listening to the still air, but that didn’t seem right to do when Tracey was home. Tonight was a little different, it felt different. He fumbled with his gadgets and read a good article and spent 20 minutes convincing himself not to text an old flame. Steve noticed he was getting bored so he decided to get dressed and head out for a little while. He had been wanting to check out a place he noticed off the road. A little spot about 40 miles out of the city called The CO-OP. It was a tiny little place you could barely see off the highway. It seemed to be a hopping little place. Steve lived in the big city so he thought it would be good to get away from the lights for a while. Plus he’d always wanted to visit this place for curiosity’s sake. So he turned on “some going out music” and jumped in the shower. Not long after that Steve heard…
Knock, knock, knock.
A steady tapping on the door. He climbed out of the shower cold and wet and clamored,
who is it, with irritation.
Peeping through the tiny window on the door Steve could see a larger person standing there in what appeared to be a blue bandana and fur coat and shiny glittery skin. Not sure if it was a female or not.
Yes, may I help you, said Steve.
In a startled voice that could have been a man’s voice or a woman who had a cold.
They replied, no sir, and scurried off to the car.

Steve thought this was odd but assumed it was just a person in the wrong place at the wrong house. He finished getting dressed, wrote a note for Tracey;
“Couldn’t sleep headed out for a bit” and pinned it on the fridge.
As he turned he knocked down a tiny topless tub of glitter and spilled it down his pants and all over his shoes.
“Why on earth did Tracey leave this here?”
He brushed it down the front of his pants but it just made a bigger mess, so he changed. With glitter still in his fingernails and shoe laces Steve headed out the door.
Steve drove down the long road for a while until he could start to see lights in the distance. You could make out the little building a little better at night. The big pink letters that read “The Co-Op” reminded you of Vegas, if Vegas was in a soybean patch surrounded by dirt roads.
The only paved road was the road leading to The Co-Op, a strange little place once you got closer. In smaller gold letters it read “A place for all to Cum” Cum being spelled C-U-M.
Steve sat and watched for a while noticing the people coming and going. He noticed the strong faced women that walked like they hadn’t got used to walking in heels yet but were trying their best. The parking lot was under observation. Each pole had a camera with a flashing blue light. Valet parking was available and people came and went without much fuss. Gentlemen left with clumsily walking women with strong features.
Steve walked into the dimly lit room that smelled of liquor and smoke and sweet sweat. Seduced slow music filled the room. There was a larger woman on the stage commanding the attention of many men who eagerly wanted her to keep them warm on such a cold night. She wore a blue bandana. The men gave penance but kept their distance and laid money at her feet. Her heels had traces that ran up her massive thighs to her waist and belly. She danced for three songs a total of 17 minutes and 29 seconds. He knew because he set his timer and planned to leave in 30 minutes if things didn’t feel right but strangely things felt right.
Although the crowd seemed to love the current act, they seemed to push in closer for the next act, a dancer known simply by the name “Tracey”.
The men gathered round accompanied by their strong faced women.
At that moment it ran across Steve’s mind, that if these women were somewhere else they would probably be someone else. They wore women’s clothes but strangely enough they didn’t seem all together like women.
The crowd grew thicker still. The smoke filled the room. The lights got dimmer, except on stage. There was no noise moments before Tracey entered. The music started back with a hiss and the crowd lay still as if paying its respects. The DJ came in with his voice that seemed to surround you like the smoke and the lights and the smell of sweet sweat.
“It’s the time for us all to be amazed. The lovely, the beautiful… they only need one name, welcome Tracey!”

And to Steve’s surprise there entered Steve’s husband Tracey…

Noah M.

Tiger’s Eye portrayed courage, integrity and right use of power. Roman soldiers carried it to deflect weapons and to be brave in battle. It has been highly regarded throughout history as a stone of prosperity and good fortune, protecting one’s resources and reflecting back malice or threats from others.

As a member of the rat race I too need to find as much help as the next man.  For me a jeweler who makes bracelets  I used to choose stones that just  looked good. Until attending a crafting event where I sold some of my bracelets to the community in which I live.  I ran across another bracelet artisan who had a list of stones and their properties.  What I came across was the meaning of a stone that I just love to use, the Tiger Eye bead.

Tiger Eye bead a member of the quartz group.  A type of blue asbestos and silica which is naturally found in quartz.  If not silicified (converted into or impregnated with silica) it makes a rarer blue color called Hawks eye.

Tiger Eye bead/stone can be used in many types of jewelry; bracelets, necklaces and pendants.  It has a certain Feng Shui element that allows the stone to be hung as a wind chime, or artistically to a room or garden.  Also its light catching properties make it a great stone to be kept by the door or window.  A great stone, it also can be kept in the home for abundance and protection.

Its three main colors are blue, gold, and red which hold a certain inner strength-Gold is for brightness.  Red is for heart circulation and blue for high spiritual nature.  As a meditative tool allow light to shine on and through this gem for a clearer mind.

Since finding its properties and meaning the stone holds a special place in my life and I usually have this stone close by.

 

 

 

I’m a runner an avid runner, I’d like to say. I run with a group of guys a few times a month when I can but more times than not I’m going it alone. So when I run with my running club I never know really how good/bad my pace is or who I can keep up with. A few weeks ago I ran with a few guys from my running group, Black Men Run. I paced with a couple of the guys that are a little slower than me and watched as the one of the other guys pulled off in the distance. Now this guy is a fairly muscular guy, dense muscles and heavy bone structure, as he pulled off, I said to myself surely I can hang with him for the next 4 miles, no sweat; gave my pacers a pound and I set off to catch up with him. As I pulled up with him and I said…”maybe I can speed this up, he ain’t going as fast as I thought”; take my shirt off, readjust my headphones and strike out. As I pickup speed and leave him (so I thought) I can hear the familiar  thump thump thump of a pair of heavy dense feet cracking the pavement…I’ve heard it before. Looking to my left, it’s him, dense muscles and all. He caught up with me now. Once I realize I’m at my max speed for this distance I notice we are pacing each other and now it’s a challenge  I can’t submit to. So for the next 3 mikes we are running at a 730ish pace. Mentally all sorts of things are going in and out of my mind and Im sure his too. He’s blowing and grunting… my knees and legs are doing the same. We pass people left and right even the little 8 yo boy who blew past us earlier.  Finally closing in on the finish line he edges me a little but looks back and gestures me to speed up and finish strong. ..I do. Finish line, fist pound and for me a subtle urge to vomit  but the race gods were good to me and  I managed to keep it down. Fast forward to the next race, I look for him and ask the other guys where he was. They said they hadn’t seen him but told me he said I really pushed him! I responded with a smile and said “No he pushed me”! I realized  while he was pushing me i was pushing him, Iron sharpen iron that day.