Bid Me Run

2004 calendar marking my very first run 

"Bid me run and I will strive with things impossible." - Shakespeare, Julius Ceasar

I was sorting through my deceased wife's wife's things when I stumbled upon a 2004 calendar. In there, I marked my  very first race - a 5k in Napa Valley, California on March 7th.  It was a memorable day marking the start of my life on the run.

My wife and young son came along with me driving early in the morning.  Unsure of what to do, we were there at six for an 8 am start. Where is everybody? My wife and son went back to the car to sleep but I told them to to meet me at the finish line 40 minutes after the start, my expected finish time. Nothing else I wanted more than for them to meet me at the finish line of my very first run.

I was in full sweats when I started and middle of the race I was burning hot. Damn it! I wanted to get rid of my layers! I was running at a much faster pace. Before I knew it, I was approaching the finish line.  It was about 26 minutes. My wife and son were nowhere to be seen. I was proud to finish faster than I thought but I was bummed they weren't there to witness a monumental race of my life. I was walking out of the chutes when I saw them walking from the parking lot.  We were all pleasantly surprised that I was already done.

This same race I met an elderly man who was in his 60's who finished at the same time as me.  He said he started running in his 30's and just kept going since then. However, his arthritis had been bothering him so he scaled down to running 5ks from running full marathons. What?  26.2 miles? He completed 14 of them!  I was awed at this gray-haired but fit looking man.  Before he left, he bid me:  Keep running, you can do it, too!

Run to the cemetery to visit my wife

It's been seven years since my first 5k.  And this Sunday I will be running my 22nd marathon in San Francisco. Bittersweet feelings expected. For wife will not be there at the finish.  Nor will she be home when I'm all done.  But this race is for you, my beloved wife.

"I will not rest until I rest in Thee." - Praying Runner

Run to the Cemetery

Nothing else gives me more life than to run to the cemetery and visit my wife's grave.  The route is terrible because it's on a busy road, but the arrival is heavenly.  I reach a wonderful feeling of calm and rest which every long distance runner aspires for at every race.

I like to show you a short music video I created when my wife's headstone was installed a few months ago and also a favorite  verse of mine.  The music is from the Disney-Pixar movie "Up".  It's a story about a man whose dreams of adventure died when his wife died; but eventually found it when he chose to step out of his own limits.  (Please turn up your volume when you play the video.  The sound recording is not very audible. Also in the video is my son arranging the flowers in her headstone.)

          "I will not rest until I rest in Thee." -- Praying Runner