A goal, a plan and a piece of paper
My interest in running began the autumn of 1992. For me, my first marathon started with a single step. A step someone else took almost two decades before my first Marine Corps Marathon. My running journey started with a piece of notebook paper and in my dad’s handwriting the words that read “Training Program.”
On October 31, 1992, my dad made a commitment to run the Marine Corps Marathon the following fall. I was just a kid at the time but I vividly remember him preparing for that race.
Fascinated, I watched as he mapped out runs of various distances and I would go with him to station water along the route. I was in awe that he could run to these places - distances I had only travelled in a car. Pretty soon, I knew exactly how far it was to any number of destinations near our house. Training and running had most certainly captured my interest.
My dad found time for long runs on the weekends while juggling coaching and cheering on our sports teams and various other family commitments. He was also running a business and he would run before work and after work and sometimes he would run to work because that was the only time he had to run on that day. He ran on business trips and when he returned home he would tell me of all the places he had seen along the way. Including a time he got a little lost running in Texas and ended up with an unexpectedly long run and a fun memory. My interest increased. He ran on vacations in the Outer Banks and St. Croix. He played tennis, he joined fitness classes, he worked out on a piece of exercise equipment that, according to his notes, was called an Alpine Tracker.
He set a goal, he made a plan, he trained and on October 24, 1993 my dad ran the Marine Corps Marathon. His training plan is covered in notes. He still has his Finisher Certificate along with the results listed in the Monday, October 25, 1993 print edition of the Washington Post. I was so proud that day and I have been proud every day since. And I knew that one day I wanted to achieve that same accomplishment.
He still has the hand-written training plan he used for his first marathon and 19 years later almost to the day, I used it to inspire mine. Following in his footsteps, I ran the Marine Corps Marathon on a picture perfect fall day in 2012 with my dad there to cheer for me every step of the way. And he’s been cheering for me during my training and at my races ever since, including multiple more Marine Corps Marathons.
We have a pre-race packet pickup tradition that started with my first half marathon, included my first Marine Corps Marathon and has carried on to almost all of my races and every one of my marathons. My dad has surprised me at races, he has travelled several states away to my races, he is a smile, a wave and a pat on the back on my best miles and on my toughest, too. He is there for post race meals and next day check ins. He tells me I can accomplish anything I set my mind to. He believes in me so I believe in me, too.
In Meb Keflezighi’s book “26 Marathon’s” there is an excerpt that is so true really resonates with me.
“But almost everyone on the starting line of a marathon is also there with the support of many others. You might see someone running down the street early in the morning and applaud her commitment. What you don’t see are the friends and family who probably help her, in ways small and large, be a runner.”
My dad continues to inspire my running journey and it all started with a piece of paper, a hand-written training plan and a single step. Thanks to his example, inspiration, motivation, encouragement and support, running has transformed my life and here at Soleful I welcome the opportunity to bring that same happiness and health to others.