I'm IN to Finish 2012....

I’m feeling so many mixed emotions at this point….  Between feeling guilty that I’m frustrated getting into NYC along with everyone coming with us at different times and making sure everything is set ok for everyone…..but yet I shouldn’t feel “guilty” when my problems are logistics when so many others have problems at a higher level of my silly logistics.  What seemed to be a fun idea in the beginning has turned into a not so great idea of riding the train now when the tunnel is still filled with water into the city.  So given a last minute distress call to the airlines and a hike in airfare during the 15 minute conversation I had with the representative I bit the bullet and said Let’s do this…so JFK here we come.

I’m reading mixed reviews of being accepted as a runner into the city because some feel the marathon shouldn’t go on.  However, some say they need the marathon to happen to boost morale and spirit as well as the economical impact the marathon can have on businesses.  So…what is the right way to feel?

I’ve read blog entries and articles from one extreme to the next.  About booing the runners and throwing the water at them as opposed to handing it to them….really?  At any point in time is that truly what you think someone should do?  I will be happy to pick up my own cup of water if it means a volunteer can be helping someone else in need from the storm; I’m completely ok with that. 

Now given, I’m well aware that’s one persons opinion and sometimes the craziest comments sneak the attention of publicity….but I will say…to claim these runners are selfish is beyond something I want to debate on, I don’t feel it’s a necessary argument.  Many runners have dedicated months of their own lives to raise money for charities (some of which are probably benefiting due to the circumstances right now), spent their weekends doing 3 hour runs, etc. I am not a New Yorker (nor am I claiming some of that justifies what others are going through right now)…. I am a West Virginian so my opinion could be different than a local’s.  I never want to see devastation; I would never celebrate it, nor ignore it which has been some of the claim along the way.  Do people really think we are “celebrating” Hurricane Sandy by running the marathon?

Plain and Simple…I am running this marathon to honor my dad who battles on a daily basis a lifestyle far worse than Hurricane Sandy.  This disease is life altering just like Hurricane Sandy.  But I’m not going to point fingers for things others do while my dad is struggling and say they are celebrating Parkinson’s Disease.  I will do whatever I can to help New York City given the opportunity while there…because that’s what people do.  I’m not there to intrude on your lifestyle and infringe on things that have happened due to the hurricane.  West Virginia has had our share of Hurricane/Super Storm Sandy, as well as a horrible storm this past summer, I never thought once at insulting people coming into our area while we were getting trees removed from our properties and so forth.  I will be the first to admit I don’t understand the extreme of race logistics, this is my first race ever of this size & magnitude…but I’m ok with some amenities of the race being altered so people can be utilized elsewhere to help others….this race means a little something different to me.  I'd even meet a new friend and see if they wanted to run 26.2 miles to still complete what we set out to do, with or without bleachers full of people and parties along every block.

I questioned at one point if I should withdraw from the marathon when the first E-mail blast went out due to everything that has happened, but I realized I’m doing this for a reason…and quitting now is going against everything I decided to prove months ago.  Things will never be perfect, there will always be obstacles and we still have to do what we set out to do.  We’ve raised ALMOST our goal of $10,000 and I have people counting on me to do this….most of all…my dad.  Tomorrow will not be any better for any Parkinson’s Disease patient if I don’t strive to make a difference now.  Now…I may sound selfish that my heart is set on the Parkinson’s Community for this effort, but there isn’t a time if someone needed help I wouldn’t do what I could to assist in it… 

I'm IN to finish for my Dad

Many people who run the NYC marathon do it to accomplish something, to honor a charity/person/a reason, and to prove you CAN do anything.  One of the reasons I love NYC is because they are a city of “do’ers”…when 9/11 happened they embraced community and set forth a plan to recover, which is exactly what they are in the process of doing now.  I just hate I’m feeling “guilty” for still moving forward with the marathon a little bit.    

I’ve been reminded by many…if anyone can do this….Team Foxers can….  And that’s just exactly what Team Spangler is going to do for Team Fox.  So if you want to throw your cup of water at me….so be it…I’ll compare your throw to my dad’s quarterback arm and I guarantee yours won’t be as good.  Ok that was a rant and I take it back J

I suppose this is my most controversial blog post ever….probably will stay that way as well…and I’m certain I’m missing the point of some people’s resentment of the NYC marathon going forward.  Please just know…if there is something my group of 6 can do while we are there…we will do it….but we are also there to prove to my dad he taught us to never quit when we’ve put our mind to something.

So as of today I’m still “IN TO FINISH 2012”