Distance ~

Thank You Equinox Marathon:
to all the runners, cheerers, volunteers (this race has the greatest support!) YOU ROCK!

I had an amazing time finishing my 5th Equinox Marathon. There is so much about this event that makes it special. The trail, which is both beautiful and challenging enough to bring one near to tears. The community, this event is a stellar example of all that is great about Fairbanks. Where else do you get over 1000 people come together to run one of the toughest marathon course in North America? And where else do you have such a world class event that is so open and encouraging to participants of ALL levels? Really fun to see everyone come together on a chilly September morning, for as many different reasons, with as many different goals, as there are people standing at the bottom of the UAF sled hill waiting to start that first climb.* I love being a part of it all!!!

*OK for those of you who are not familiar with the Equinox Marathon let me tell you the course was designed by a direct descendant of the Marquis de Sade. There is maybe 1/3 mile of flat ground on the whole course!!!  Really check out the course profile!

This year I went into the race knowing I was not trained as well as past years. A little slip when the dog yard was muddy last month had me worried about my knee. And since I have big plans for that knee this winter, I was taking it extra careful. But I really look forward to this event,  and wanted to be a part of the 50th Equinox. I knew from past experience that a huge part of finishing a distance event is mental, and I was fairly sure I had enough training, fitness, and mental toughness to waddle my way through.

Little hop skip at the finish~

and a better time then I had expected.

As things would turn out this years race had a more philosophical then physical lesson to teach me.

You see recently I had lost a dear friend, not one I had seen in years. But one of the many people who is in your life for a place and time so special, so important, shaping you into who you are today. And those times, places, & people are indelibly etched on your soul. In losing a friend from this category I felt the pain of distance. Not a fun or familiar feeling. Distance comes in many forms, it comes as time, space, length. It comes in inevitable and optional varieties. Distance was what  slowly seeps between us. Intellectually I know all this, and yet in my day to day perceptions distance was another matter altogether.

Distance was freedom, the time and space to explore, discover, learn, improve, reflect. It was challenge and adventure. A solace, certainly not something to be avoided.

And here I was faced with the pain of distance. With time of course I would mourn, process, and realize that; Yes amazing people come into our lives for various amounts of time, and that is a gift. But not always a permanent one. And really would I still want to be living that life now? No. It’s called evolving, and it is what we do~

Smiling till the end.

But now my dear sweet Distance was tainted, till September 15th at 2:10 PM (6 hours and 10 minutes after we started up that first climb at the UAF sled hill) You see in those 6+ hours Distance and I kissed and made up. I felt how much I enjoyed the pace of distance, finding your own stride. At mile 22 when I could still pick-it-up to my new favorite song “Some Nights” I felt the strength you draw from distance. The cheers and encouragement of friends and the spectacular views on the out and back section of trail (A ridge-line on Ester Dome) was distance whispering in my ear, see sometimes I am sweet.

This in no way solves the dilemma of how to keep all the wonderful & important people dear to me near to me. But during those 6+ hours I had plenty of time to reflect on that as well, and I am pretty sure you are not supposed to. But I am also pretty sure that I am for them, like they are for me, indelibly etched on the soul.