Many of you probably know the results of my ill-fated performance in the 2005 Baltimore Marathon (a tragic story of high expectations and dashed hopes), mainly because it's a story I kinda like to tell. I like the reaction - fully admit it. It's usually a mix of "Oh, how scary" with a touch of "Oh, how funny" and an ounce of "how could you be so stupid?".
The long and short is - On that day (back when I was young and foolish) I made it to mile 23 of 26 of the Baltimore Marathon, blacked out due to severe dehydration (yeah, drinking a lot of diet coke probably isn't the best race preparation), and woke up in the emergency room of a Baltimore hospital unable to remember my name, address, or having ever been in a marathon...oh, and I also didn't carry a single piece of contact information so, basically nobody else knew who I was either. Overall, it was a super duper situation. Fortunately, my friend Chandra was there running as well and tracked me down when I didn't show up at the finish line (despite claims by the race directors that I "probably just met a guy running and went to a bar after the race...to which she replied, "You don't know Faith"). By the time she found me, I had been discharged with about 75% of my memory back, sent to a taxi cab and driven to the hotel where I was pretty sure I was staying only to find that I hadn't run with a key or any money either. The cab driver was very patient and sat, waiting with me (the meter running, of course), until Chandra arrived (escorted by a helpful policeman) with and key and money and saved the day.
Anyway, even thought I've successfully completed other marathons over the past 2 years, Baltimore has haunted me since that day - the unfulfilled dream, the open-ended journey, the Odyssey to my Odysseus, the race I never finished. Well, last Saturday, I returned to Baltimore with my friends Nichole, Taryn and Bruce to run the team relay, which is a race that runs parallel to the marathon with 4 people each running a section. I ran the 4th and final segment of the race (including the 3 miles I didn't finish the first time). It was quite the run down memory lane - look, the park where I started walking, the bridge where another runner told me I didn't look good and tried to make me stop, I even narrowed it down to 2 potential blocks where I think I might have collapsed. Awwww...memories...or, actually in this case, lack of memories. :)
As I passed marathoners (not so hard considering my first mile was their 19th - but man did I feel like a rock star!) I thought back over the past 2 years and about how things have changed since that last race in Baltimore. Who I was then and who I am now are such different people. Isn't it amazing how time and experience can move you in different directions and force you to grow into a different, stronger, better person?
A smarter person, too. This time I drank lots of water beforehand, carried cab money, and wrote my name, address and about 10 emergency contacts on the back of my bib.
Thanks to my relay teammates - you guys are the best!
Note: Another quote from strange people I meet on my morning run - "Lois Lane, Superman is waiting for you at the Daily Planet." The man who relayed this message to me was so concerned that I get it that he actually flagged me down and asked me to stop listening to my music. I understand his concern, Superman should not be kept waiting.
The long and short is - On that day (back when I was young and foolish) I made it to mile 23 of 26 of the Baltimore Marathon, blacked out due to severe dehydration (yeah, drinking a lot of diet coke probably isn't the best race preparation), and woke up in the emergency room of a Baltimore hospital unable to remember my name, address, or having ever been in a marathon...oh, and I also didn't carry a single piece of contact information so, basically nobody else knew who I was either. Overall, it was a super duper situation. Fortunately, my friend Chandra was there running as well and tracked me down when I didn't show up at the finish line (despite claims by the race directors that I "probably just met a guy running and went to a bar after the race...to which she replied, "You don't know Faith"). By the time she found me, I had been discharged with about 75% of my memory back, sent to a taxi cab and driven to the hotel where I was pretty sure I was staying only to find that I hadn't run with a key or any money either. The cab driver was very patient and sat, waiting with me (the meter running, of course), until Chandra arrived (escorted by a helpful policeman) with and key and money and saved the day.
Anyway, even thought I've successfully completed other marathons over the past 2 years, Baltimore has haunted me since that day - the unfulfilled dream, the open-ended journey, the Odyssey to my Odysseus, the race I never finished. Well, last Saturday, I returned to Baltimore with my friends Nichole, Taryn and Bruce to run the team relay, which is a race that runs parallel to the marathon with 4 people each running a section. I ran the 4th and final segment of the race (including the 3 miles I didn't finish the first time). It was quite the run down memory lane - look, the park where I started walking, the bridge where another runner told me I didn't look good and tried to make me stop, I even narrowed it down to 2 potential blocks where I think I might have collapsed. Awwww...memories...or, actually in this case, lack of memories. :)
As I passed marathoners (not so hard considering my first mile was their 19th - but man did I feel like a rock star!) I thought back over the past 2 years and about how things have changed since that last race in Baltimore. Who I was then and who I am now are such different people. Isn't it amazing how time and experience can move you in different directions and force you to grow into a different, stronger, better person?
A smarter person, too. This time I drank lots of water beforehand, carried cab money, and wrote my name, address and about 10 emergency contacts on the back of my bib.
Thanks to my relay teammates - you guys are the best!
Note: Another quote from strange people I meet on my morning run - "Lois Lane, Superman is waiting for you at the Daily Planet." The man who relayed this message to me was so concerned that I get it that he actually flagged me down and asked me to stop listening to my music. I understand his concern, Superman should not be kept waiting.
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