Running, a Community Sport

Until my final year of university, I always played team sports. Actually, I always played basketball. Now and then, I might have dabbled in a rec round of soccer or badminton, but I lived for basketball. At times I struggled with selfishness in this team sport. I wanted to achieve a personal high score, I wanted to be MVP, I wanted to be a star; but ultimately, above all else, I wanted my teammates and I to win! We worked hard individually, but we were in it together, all of us aware that victory would be elusive if we did not have each other, if we did not work for and with each other.

Nearing the end of my senior year of college ball (which feels like "way back when" at this point in my life) I realized that I wouldn't likely be in a situation in the future where team sports would be consistenly accessible. So I took up running. But, being a very driven, workaholic sort, I decided that I would only run if it were to train for a half marathon. Twenty-one kilometers seemed quite out of reach initially, but click by click, I built endurance and over a few years ran 4 half marathons. I trained with a few pals, but never felt that running was a group thing. Until recently.

A few months back I decided that this was the year to train for a full marathon race, here in my home province. I started training, built up mileage, blah, blah, blah. It seemed so empty. I wanted running to have more of a purpose than just getting in great shape. In my heart, I was running for my Mom...so then we made it official. I would run the marathon to raise support for her medical expenses. Running started to become about something more than Me: The Star! It became about her.

As some donations have been coming in for Mum, and friends have joined our "group" of support, I have begun to feel the community of running. And as I thought more I realized that, though I may be the legs trodding out the miles, I would be completely helpless without the aid of my Dad, who brought me bottles of water on my country run 3 weeks back. I would never have had the strength to finish my 28k city run last weekend if it weren't for my husband meeting me every 7 miles with bottles of electrolytes and water, for getting up early with me on his cherished sleep-in Saturday to eat carbs and get running before the sun got too hot. I would have been quite overwhelmed without the encouragement of Mum, of co-workers, of friends for cheering me on as I run, and Mum on as she battles her illnesses. My frame may be the one jogging down the road and (with God's grace) crossing the marathon finish line in October, but it is the framework of commnuity that carries me there.

So, finally, I am part of a team sport again, only the goal is not to trample an opponent, but to uplift and support the most beautiful woman I know. Thanks to any and all of you who are part of the team. Whether you ever lace up your sneaks to hit the pavement or not, you are my "community runners."