Stockholm Marathon--

Marathons always feel like I'm running with angels.  It seems when my physical body is pushed to its limits I am pulled into a space where my heart and soul takes over and connects to a world beyond me....  I think that can be said about all hard things we experience--- meaningful, profound learning can hurt and be exhilarating -- sometimes just moments apart.  I wonder if without the hurt could it truly be exhilarating..

I always hope my dad is along for the ride but this time Ruby, Mary Melinda, Mary and Kjerste are   my running angels.

Map and directions to the race that arrived in the mail--  in Swedish no wait that is German?!  Oy!

Miracles along the way...  We arrived in Sweden!  Our flight was delayed in Switzerland and we were certain that we wouldn't make our connecting flight in Germany--  We ran to the gate just in time to board.  Kelli kept saying, "How is that possible, I can't believe that we made that flight!"  With my heart rate just coming down we began to wonder if our bags would make it.  It seemed impossible for them to have made the transition.  Kelli, my friend and race buddy began to say things like, "They will get them on the next flight and we'll have them first thing in the morning!" "We'll just fill out a form of where we are staying and they'll get them to us."  I thought about throwing my running shoes into my backpack- thinking everything else was replaceable, but I didn't---  Next miracle....  we arrived to claim our bags and they are the first ones off!!  We looked at each other and just shook our heads--- how did they make it?!  We repeated those words all the way to our hotel--

Feeling looked after with a plane that waits and luggage that arrives!
Arriving and meeting the locals!!

When I started training for the marathon I began looking for a story and my mom found one.  A story of women in my family that link back to a beginning, a sort of once upon a time place and a young girl named Kjerste who believed.  This story even has a prop that my mom sent to me in the mail-- a pair of wooden clogs...  Kjerste left Sweden in the night and began a journey to America where she walked to Utah wearing a pair of wooden shoes..  She ran for me and today I was going to run for her!

You can get lost in a race like this-- it was huge!  21,000 runners started the race and about 15,000 would finish...  It had the usual race story-- long lines to the porta potty, race chip, and race jitters--  There were so many people that they had staggered start times.  I stood squashed in the middle of a group of runners in what race officials called the, "F", group.  I heard different languages all around me---  That moment made me think of all the different places, backgrounds, training schedules, and running pace, heading to the same place with the same map-- (I never did get my map in English)  All trying to make it home....  It really is an International journey home--

A noon start--- and it was warm.  I left Switzerland in a cold downpour but starting a race at noon with warm temperatures had me a little worried..  An hour into the race and clouds rolled in and it started to mist.  Couldn't have asked for anything better!  I was wishing I had brought my Garmin running watch along.  The race was measured in km.  My body can kind of mentally adjust for miles but these random km signs were hard to measure my progress..  Half way through and it begin to rain, steady and hard.  An ambulance takes someone from those rainy streets...  A variety of bands and music along the way-- made me smile a little but hard to enjoy with legs that ached with so much further to go. 

Utah and home seemed so far away as I was trying to make my way to the finish line.  I'm not sure I even understand the kind of courage it takes to leave your home without a cell phone, debit card, plane ticket, and google earth to find you way to a place not really even established on a map.  The map that Kjerste must of had was full of light and whispers that gave hope and cheers.  I ran hoping that I was one of her pacers at one time.  I ran through the old city and across bridges and wondered if Kjerste had done the same.  30 Km in and the tears would come and go--

Race food along the way became part of the entertainment, wonder what would come next.  The usual of water, gatorade, bananas were handed out.  Later in the race came pickles, powdery sugar cubes with race volunteers handing them out wearing surgical gloves-- that can't be good.  Later in the race soup, chicken type broth-- that actually hit the spot, cola, and coffee.  Then at the finish line there was beer and hot dogs!  They know how to celebrate--

I found the course challenging.  It was a two loop course full of ups and down.  It was an up hill climb to the finish.  One km to go and I was really wishing I could stop here--  In a storm we entered the Olympic Stadium with runner's faces on the big screen... one lap around as we headed to the finish.  One lap for a few of my heroes.

Dixie, Ruby, Mary Melinda, Mary and Kjerste--  a woman's pull that I am part of.....  wishing my pacers were not too far away... 

Cooling those muscles at the Ice Bar in the hotel with a little Orange Juice-- really made of ice--

A Sunday in Stockholm to stroll and enjoy this beautiful city.  I walked wondering what my life would be like if those before us had made different choices...  Funny how you can feel connected to a place and people you a have never met but seem to know, understand, and love.  Impossible to repay those that gave you a gift that needs to be nourished but brings such light, joy, and knowledge that continues to heal me and encourages me to be better.   To Kjerste in Swedish I say thank you, "Tack"

As Grandma Robbins would say, "Bless your heart!"

"Oysters are a lot like women.  It's how we survive the hurts in life that brings us strength and gives us our beauty."  (Saving CeeCee Honeycutt)