It Is What It Is! – Heidi

I almost had to laugh driving home from work today as it was completely pouring with snow flakes and big balls of ice mixed in with the heavy rain. Lots of people recommend meditation and imagery as part of marathon training, so I sat in my car imagining what it will feel to run in this on Monday (for 26.2 miles, no less!). The whole scene was even more comical as I had just picked up my very handsome running shorts and singlet provided by the Hospital (but wind pants and jacket too).

I admit that I was not in this state of resignation yesterday. I had been up all night delivering beautiful babies and had a day off, packed with errands and appointments. It was casually mentioned by two people (neither of whom knew I was running on Monday) that the weather forecast was so bad there was talk of canceling the Marathon. I came home and sent a panicked email to Martha with the title “AAAArrgh!!!!”

There is some good news in the midst of the current weather crisis (trying to use the power of positive thinking that my mother taught me). #1 I learned that Martha and I can ride on the bus filled with Hospital volunteers on Monday morning and then use the bus for shelter as we wait. We have to meet at the Hospital at 0600, but I doubt I’ll be able to sleep in anyways and then I’ll finally get to meet all the other runners from Newton-Wellesley. #2 I don’t have to worry about heat stroke. Well, at least I can think of two good things.

I want to use the end of this last pre-Marathon blog to thank everyone who has been so encouraging and wish all fellow Boston Marathon runners good luck. Yesterday at the Suburban Striders practice, I arrived late and had to leave quickly to get to another appointment. I felt badly that I didn’t get to stay and wish everyone else in the group well, especially after all of the encouragement that I have received. Each Marathon runner from SSRC was assigned an “angel.” Sharon, my angel, arrived with jellybeans, tissues, wipes, etc. all neatly packaged in small Ziploc bags. If the weather stays like this, all of the angels should watch us from the comfort of their TV chairs. We know you’re cheering for us even if we don’t see you under a pink umbrella! Thank you to everyone at Newton-Wellesley, both staff and patients, who has given us encouragement (or teased us about our life-size cut outs). Jane, an OR “angel” left a well-thought-out gift on my desk. I hope to be worthy of the 26.2 sticker and will use the foot massage ball both before and after! Thank you to my husband who will feed me well this weekend and hopefully pick me up in one piece at the finish line. One of my running buddies, Carol, was featured in the Globe in the food section this week so maybe he’ll try her recipe! A big birthday hug to my son, who will turn twelve this weekend, and thank you for delaying your sleepover party until after the Marathon so I won’t lose another night’s sleep this week.