"All endeavor calls for the ability to tramp the last mile, shape the last plan, endure the last hour's toil. The fight to the finish spirit is the one...characteristic we possess if we are to face the future as finishers."
- Henry David Thoreau
- Henry David Thoreau
Bellwood Avenue. Almost always the start of my jogs and runs, and very often the final mile. I have run on it in nearly every condition and season I can fathom: Sun, rain, snow, wind, and darkness of the night. It was on this road that I wrapped up my marathon training three days ago. I am physically and mentally ready for the Big Day tomorrow.
Months turned into weeks, weeks into days, and now I tick off the final hours before I toe the start line at Verazzano-Narrows bridge in Staten Island. The marathon will take me through a delightful, and sometimes painful, on-the-ground sightseeing tour of NYC like never before. It will go through all five boroughs, cross 5 bridges, and end at my favorite haunt in Manhattan - Central Park.
In my mind, I am a Kenyan and Ethiopian, but I know I cannot keep up with those flighty runners from the East African highlands. My only goal is to finish, whether it takes 4 hours (my predicted time), 4 and a half hours (in order to get my name in the NY Times), or 6 hours (to get my finisher's medal). Today is the Day of Arafah (Day of Repentance) in Mecca, where nearly 2 million pilgrims are beseeching God for forgiveness for a lifetime of sins. Tomorrow they will celebrate the end of the Hajj, but my Day of Reckoning will just be starting.
I intend to enjoy the company of my 45,000+ fellow runners, buoyed by cheers from the nearly 2 million spectators lining the streets of New York, entertained by the 130 performance groups, and nourished by the volunteers at the fluid and medic stations. With these welcome distractions, I will probably ignore my iPod. But at some point, I will need motivation from within. "Run, Jawaad, Run!" will be followed by "Labayk, Allahumma, Labayk (Here I am, O Lord)", leading to "Push, push, push!" in the final miles.
I will be a Starter on Verazzano, the King of Queensboro (Bridge), a Reveler on First Avenue, and a Finisher in Central Park.
Months turned into weeks, weeks into days, and now I tick off the final hours before I toe the start line at Verazzano-Narrows bridge in Staten Island. The marathon will take me through a delightful, and sometimes painful, on-the-ground sightseeing tour of NYC like never before. It will go through all five boroughs, cross 5 bridges, and end at my favorite haunt in Manhattan - Central Park.
In my mind, I am a Kenyan and Ethiopian, but I know I cannot keep up with those flighty runners from the East African highlands. My only goal is to finish, whether it takes 4 hours (my predicted time), 4 and a half hours (in order to get my name in the NY Times), or 6 hours (to get my finisher's medal). Today is the Day of Arafah (Day of Repentance) in Mecca, where nearly 2 million pilgrims are beseeching God for forgiveness for a lifetime of sins. Tomorrow they will celebrate the end of the Hajj, but my Day of Reckoning will just be starting.
I intend to enjoy the company of my 45,000+ fellow runners, buoyed by cheers from the nearly 2 million spectators lining the streets of New York, entertained by the 130 performance groups, and nourished by the volunteers at the fluid and medic stations. With these welcome distractions, I will probably ignore my iPod. But at some point, I will need motivation from within. "Run, Jawaad, Run!" will be followed by "Labayk, Allahumma, Labayk (Here I am, O Lord)", leading to "Push, push, push!" in the final miles.
I will be a Starter on Verazzano, the King of Queensboro (Bridge), a Reveler on First Avenue, and a Finisher in Central Park.
"The woods are lovely, dark and deep
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep."
-Robert Frost, Stopping by Woods on Snowy Evening
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep."
-Robert Frost, Stopping by Woods on Snowy Evening
Random Fun Facts:
Longest distance (in training): 20.56 miles
Total training miles: 285.6 miles
Total training runs: 45
Total training time: 43 hours
Calories burned: 29600 (211 large chocolate chip cookies)
Longest distance (in training): 20.56 miles
Total training miles: 285.6 miles
Total training runs: 45
Total training time: 43 hours
Calories burned: 29600 (211 large chocolate chip cookies)
Jawaad,
ReplyDeleteThe woods, indeed are lovely, dark and deep, and you have promises to keep.
The road ahead of you may appear long, but remember, you won't be alone, and several thousand souls , like you , will be looking within and gauging their abilities and strengths.
and when you will call out Labbaik, trust me, the miles and the minutes will fly.
And Pappa and myself will be there, even if not physically to cheer you through . Good Luck!
211 chocolate chip cookies...i just ate that many today and feel so guilty haha...good luck! i hope your run goes well!
ReplyDeleteRun, Forrest, Run! (Oh, no, was that meant to be "Run, through dark forests, run?", as per your Robert Frost poem). Somehow the former seemed strangely applicable! ;) Either way, Push hard, Run hard, Play hard! You can do it!
ReplyDelete--Javed
Jawaad; I read the post, and then re-read it, and yet a third time-- only to find myself feeling the same amount of adrenalin rush! Your writing is so perfectly kneaded! Congratulations once again!
ReplyDelete-Zohra