Thank you 'everyone of you' for your support. My wife and I had a wonderful week. Two nights looking out of our room at the Ocean, in Ocean Shores, WA. A night looking out at the Straits in Port Angeles, and 3 nights with a water front view of Victoria, Canada.
The weather ... lots of rain, with a few breaks in the clouds, but it didn't dampen the spirit of the trip.
Marathon Day .... That night you could here the wind and rain blasting against the windows. Fortunately, the start line was only a 5 minute walk from my hotel. As soon as the marathon began it started raining again. First you head out of Victoria then run North along the shore. It was beautiful as you could look across the Strait to the US and Washington State. You head South again through Victoria's beautiful neighborhoods, then south to around the 16 mile mark. All of this is mostly along a shore. You passed an island with a lighthouse along the way. It is truly a gem. Now at this point you turn back North along the shore. The hills were not real steep, but long and rolling. At this point I was feeling pretty good and running a even 10 minute mile; then I hit mile 17, and on a hill, my knee went out from under me, which I am sure is just from the prior hamstring tear. (No damage),but from then on until about mile mark 21 it felt like a dry socket, bone on bone. About mile 19 my right calf cramped, and I can only describe it as a marble, (if you can imagine that) in my calf. I wanted to stop and stretch it out good, but I wanted to break my first marathon time of 4:55, so I at best just grit my teeth. What is strange, is around 21 to 24 miles I felt no pain again, and just started cruising and getting back on track. During the early part of a marathon it is a mental game, and I would just tell myself I was running for kids, and for other heart patients. Between 24 and 26 miles, mentally I was drained. Then I thought of Christ on his final journey to the cross. I told myself if he could do that for me, I could certainly finish this marathon. The knee pain and cramp was back, but no way was that stopping me now. At the finish line was some of the World Vision staff, my mother and sister, and my beautiful wife Charyl. I received a medal, lots of pictures taken. I don't think anyone can ever forget the memory of crossing a finish line of a marathon.
Today I am somewhat sad for I know my friendships at World Vision with the people I have had the honor and privilege to work with will be separated with time; but as one door closes, another opens.
Thank you for all your prayers, support, encouragement, and love. I will forever treasure memory of this past year, and the marathon itself.
Thank you each and everyone of you again. May God have all the glory. Mark
