what is it about the marathon

that made it so special?

i was just at the chicago marathon - a spectator to the 40,000 who were mad enough to run the 26.2 in almost-freezing weather. it was a special experience. perhaps most of all because it was a culmination of the hard work and pain that n & a had put in to get there. perhaps because i understood it and knew what they felt. perhaps simply because i cared...

it was lovely to see people finish - in agony, in ecstasy, in seeming indifference... it was even lovelier to see the crowds come and support these people through the race, most of all - to be reminded of how much it means to care and be cared for. yes, i think that, to me, was what made the marathon so special.

of course others are free to have other notions :).