First, a training update; I am officially in the taper period, and while it feels good to rest my weary body, it’s also disconcerting. I feel like I should be running much more than I am, but I’m following the instructions of my coach (and every single expert I can find on the internet) who all say to take it easy and carb load. Done and done.
As for my fundraising, I am currently at 96% of my goal. I am so humbled and grateful for all those who made donations this last week; much like a race itself, I now can see the finish line. Thank you, thank you, and for those who would still like to donate, please hit the “Donate Here” button above.
Now, for this week’s reason to run. This is by far the most difficult post to write, but perhaps the most important: for Nancy. I met Nancy on Monday, April 21, 2008, exactly six years to the date before the Boston Marathon this year. She was a childhood friend of my good friend Shauna’s, who had invited her for the first time to our annual Marathon Monday tradition. Our close friend Sarah lived right on Beacon Street on Coolidge Corner at Mile 24, and every year she hosted epic Marathon viewing parties. We drank beverages, we ate snacks, we tracked our friends on her computer (before the era of smart phones, this seemed like magic!), we cheered like crazy for all the runners going by, and we made amazing memories. The truth is I don’t even remember the exact moment Nancy and I were introduced; she became part of our group of close friends almost instantly, and part of the history of Marathon Monday for our group. Over the next few years, Nancy and I traveled with our group of friends (the “Wolf Pack” as we began to call ourselves) to Maine, Cape Cod, Washington D.C. and Chicago. She was a great travel buddy who was always up for anything. Nerdy historic museum tours? Check. Kayaking in frigid Acadian water? Check. Lying on the beach all day? Check. We also watched the Marathon two more times together from that same spot at Mile 24 in Brookline.
On November 19, 2011, the beautiful, fearless, athletic, singular, optimistic, loyal and loving Nancy Barry was killed very suddenly. I was with her that day, and it very easily could have been me in her place. For a while, I actually thought it should have been me. Nancy was, after all, the one who had her life together; I was the mess. However, eventually I realized that nothing could change what had happened, and the best way to honor her was to live my life more like hers. I started with silly little things; drinking cider instead of beer. Having the full fat milk once in a while. Then I started with bigger ideas; I applied for a new job and got it. I said “yes” more than I said “no.” I tried to be more patient. And most of all, I decided to keep up with the running, for her sake. The day after she died, several of us gathered at Shauna’s house to grieve and talk. When I mentioned to my friend Kevin, who had run the Boston Marathon himself, that I’d be running for her sake from now on, he turned to me and said, “Maybe you’ll run the Marathon for Nancy someday, Meg.” I remember thinking… maybe I will. And now I am.
Running the Boston Marathon on the anniversary of the day we met is the single greatest act that I can think of to do in Nancy’s memory. While I clearly have many reasons to run that will keep me going that day, I will be dedicating the race itself to her. She will be with me the entire time, as she always is when I run. However, I like to think she’ll be cheering for me extra hard at Mile 24 on Beacon Street. I’ll be looking for her there, and hoping she’ll carry me all the way to the finish line.
Meg