nyc marathon & Sandy

I have been blessed to enjoy (or mostly enjoy) running several different marathons so far in my life. Let me tell you, those marathons were a BIG deal to me. I trained for them faithfully and consistently. I had the marathon date circled on my calendar - months before it actually came. Friends trained with me and came to support me during the races. The marathon - both the training for it and the actual race - occupied a lot of "space" in my life. And that was a good thing!

Still, there are days when we all need to remember that running is not just about...running. It's about life. There's a danger in anything we love - a danger that it will become an obsession, and not just a wonderful part of life that we enjoy and cherish with friends. The marathons I have run have played a big part in my life, but they do not DEFINE my life. My life is not defined by running any more than it is defined by food, entertainment, or a nice pair of shoes! Running and other forms of exercise are meant to ENRICH our lives, not become an obsession that takes away from living life with people we love.

Last weekend, the city of New York made a statement along these same lines. They did something that would have been unthinkable, even a month ago: they cancelled the New York City Marathon. In light of the damage, destruction, and suffering caused by Hurricane Sandy, they decided to prioritize in a different direction than a race. People, money, other resources - these should, at least on this week, be directed primarily to help those who have lost so much in the past few days. New York City, as much at is loves its marathon, made a statement that it cares about people even more. It's not just about running. Running isn't just about running. It's about life.