Boston Marathon Miles Dedication

Boston Marathon Miles Dedication
113th Boston Marathon
April 20th, 2009

I am trying something a little different for my 18th marathon. I have decided to dedicate each mile of my race to special people in my life. There aren’t enough miles in a marathon to recognize everyone, so with that said, I’m dedicating a few miles of my race to special “groups,” so that I may umbrella everyone in! I’d like to write paragraphs and pages about how much everyone means to me, but I would subsequently miss my flight to Boston and miss the marathon! Therefore, I’m keeping it brief.

Although this is the first time I’m officially writing up and sharing my dedication, every race I’ve ever done has been done with family, friends, and special people in the forefront of my thoughts. If you’ve ever run a marathon, then you can probably relate to that overwhelming feeling of gratitude during the race for the people who are a part of your life and have helped you get to the starting line and finish line in one way or another. There are two special women who have motivated me to actually document my dedication, and they are Shawndra Turner and Eileen Tamblyn. Their stories are below, please read on.

The following names will be written on my pace bracelet next to each mile so I can see them and reflect with each mile:

Mile 1: Mom
Mile 2: Dad
Without Mom and Dad (Nana and Papa), I wouldn’t be here! They’ve supported me through all my endeavors, as crazy as they may be, and are amazing grandparents to our wonderful children! They cheered me on during my first Boston in 2003, and that was the day that inspired Mom to start her own running adventures. Mom is now the veteran of several half marathons, 10ks, and 5ks.
Mile 3: Barb
Mile 4: Doug
Without my in-laws, Eric wouldn’t be here! They are fantastic parents and grandparents, and are huge supporters of Eric and I.
Mile 5: Uncle Dana and Brutus – Eric’s brother and pug
Mile 6: Stef – for being a great friend and business partner for 4 years!
Mile 7: Galloway Training Group – My marathon training group has motivated me to get out of bed on so many super-early, dark, cold mornings!
Mile 8: ING Marathon Friends – Jen (GA), Jen (PA), Holli, and Steve – for getting me through my latest long run and 17th marathon with ease and fun!
Mile 9: Scorpions Soccer Team – I’m missing one of our last few games to be at the race. My little soccer team brings me such joy! They are fun little bundles of energy, and I love the sense of community and family I get with the children and parents.
Mile 10: Ms. Lynne and Ms. Mary – Ethan’s preschool teachers. They are two of the sweetest, most caring teachers I know. I can’t think of a better place for Ethan to be. They do a phenomenal job with the children. Ethan loves them and so do I!
Mile 11: Ms. George and Ms. Gaither – Lauren’s Pre-K teachers. They are fantastic teachers! They have done a magnificent job with the class, cultivating their love for learning, preparing them for kindergarten, and doing so in a loving and supportive environment.
Mile 12: Family – All extended family – McCarthys and Lamphiers!
Mile 13: Friends – neighborhood friends, school friends, Boston friends, Atlanta friends, and far away friends.
Mile 14: Lisa – She’s my college roommate and sorority sister, and gracious Boston Marathon hostess. I run as fast as I can to qualify just so I have a great excuse to come see her every April!
Mile 15:Shawndra Turner
Mile 16:Shawndra Turner
Mile 17:Shawndra Turner – I came across Shawndra’s blog site in 2007 while doing some research on my colon issues on the internet… Shawndra was diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 2006 at the age of 30, less than a year after her first child, daughter Ella, was born. She began blogging about her life after her cancer diagnosis, and I found her strength and outlook on life to be amazing, motivating, super-human, words can’t describe. She fought her disease with such dignity and grace. She never gave up despite a grim diagnosis. I wrote to her about my own issues. She replied back, encouraging me to follow through with the medical exams that we’re typically not supposed to “need” until we’re 50. Her story really scared me. Here is a new mother to a beautiful little girl, practically my age, suffering from a type of cancer we’re not used to seeing in someone of this age group. It made me realize how fragile life is, and how we need to take good care of ourselves, be our own medical advocates. I followed her blog faithfully from the summer of 2007 until now. In my eyes, she was a life saver of young women, getting her story out there and encouraging us ladies with similar symptoms to get checked out. One simple colonoscopy could save your life! She was also a mother of a toddler, had great mommy stories, and a contagious personality. Shawndra passed away on March 15th at the age of 32. Her blogspot is http://www.shawndraturner.blogspot.com/
Mile 18:Eileen Tamblyn
Mile 19:Eileen Tamblyn
Mile 20:Eileen Tamblyn
Mile 21:Eileen Tamblyn – Eileen Tamblyn is the daughter of Ethan’s preschool teacher, Miss Lynne. I haven’t had the honor of meeting Eileen yet, but I think so highly of Miss Lynne that I couldn’t help but be drawn in by her daughter’s remarkable struggle. Thanksgiving 2008, Eileen suffered from a rare medical condition, called necrotizing fasciitis, which is a rapidly spreading inflammatory infection. Her condition went from a slight pain in her thigh to nearly fatal in a matter of days, and Eileen was suddenly thrust in the fight for her life. Doctors had declared her to be in organ failure just days after the mysterious pain in her thigh. Her leg had to be amputated at the hip and she was in a coma for several weeks. Fortunately, through an unwavering will to live and the support of family and friends, Eileen is making improvements daily! She has fought through so many setbacks, fevers, infections, ventilators, feeding tubes, trach tubes, physical therapy… she is now at the Center for Rehabilitative Medicine, able to use her laptop, and focusing on physical therapy and getting herself ready to head home in the next few months. I can’t even imagine the will and strength that Eileen must have to overcome such a trauma. Please keep her in your thoughts as she continues to recover, but is still in a very difficult part of her journey. When I think about Boston, I think about Eileen. Her husband was supposed to run this year (but word has it he’s injured), and Eileen wanted to go along, as well. So, I’m taking Eileen with me on my pace bracelet, and the Hills of Newton are dedicated to her, the toughest part of the marathon course. She is one tough cookie. Read more about Eileen and her amazing spirit at http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/eileentamblyn

Mile 22:Emma – Our precious Labrador died on Feb. 1 after an unexpected, brief illness and this broke my heart into a million pieces! I miss her every day, and will run hard when I think of her.
Mile 23:Eric, Lauren, and Ethan
Mile 24:Eric, Lauren, and Ethan
Mile 25:Eric, Lauren, and Ethan
Mile 26:Eric, Lauren, and Ethan – I’ll need these three for these last few miles! My beautiful children and husband are just the motivation I need to get to the finish line. They have supported me through every run, every race. Eric ran the last 9 miles of Boston with me last year, and they were TOUGH miles for me. I will definitely miss having him with me this year. I am ready to take on the challenge of running it alone, because I already know that I’m not really alone. I just need to look at my pace bracelet…

I am well trained for this race and am anticipating a successful race day. However, ANYTHING can happen in a marathon. Should I not be able to complete the race for some particular reason, rest assured I have already run your mile. I’ve thought about you all on past marathons, training runs in the 15 degree cold and darkness, on bright, sunny spring days… You’ve all been there for me long before the Boston Marathon came along! Thanks to you all for being an inspiration to me!

Gotta Run,
Caryn