Marathoning

The Chicago marathon was this weekend. I went out to cheer for my big brother. I'm very proud of him, he finished in just over 4 hours. However, since he is not a blog reader...he gets no further shout outs.

The marathon got me to thinking and reminiscing about marathons past. I came to the conclusion that Kyle's overseas experience, for both he and I is like a marathon.
Here's how:
At the beginning you're good. You feel empowered and able to complete the task ahead. You've prepared, you made plans, your well rested. As you continue, you are supported by those on the sidelines and those cheering for you from a distance, but helping you along nonetheless.

At some point during a marathon, it just becomes about making it to the next water station, checkpoint, the next Chicago neighborhood, and eventually just the next step. Just like the deployment. At some point it's just the next package in the mail, the next phone call, the next email, and the two weeks R&R leave that we could have had already been here if our close friends (Tony and Gilian!) had chosen to get married in late summer or early fall rather than late October...but I digress. Sure there are a few spots along the way where it's quite, your supporters are somewhere out there in the distance and it seems like your further away then when you started. It's the hardest part of the race for sure. Its only the anticipation of the finish line, the achievement, the accomplishment and the euphoria that follows that keeps you taking that next step. In the end the race takes a hefty physical and mental toll, and it takes time to heal. You're stronger for it, and you may even want to do it again (that part only applies to the marathon though, we don't want Kyle to deploy again).

Kyle and I have successfully finished three marathons together, holding hands at the finish line (except in 2006 when Kyle ditched me for a better time) and if we can do that, then we will knock this deployment out of the park with the finish line in sight.

Congrats, to all the Chicago Marathoners! Especially, my brother James, his 7th marathon (ok, one more shout out. Maybe it will get him to read this WHOLE blog entry!).