Run Anyway Marathon NYC 2012

So….Yes….the marathon got cancelled…..  You might want to grand a beer, glass of wine, stiff coffee, sweet tea, or something and sit back in a chair to read this as I have a feeling this blog post may be a long one.

Now…before someone wants to go off on a tangent of saying I’m a selfish, only out for myself runner, didn’t want the better good for people, and whatever other crazy things I’ve seen you publish all over social media…I will politely ask you to move along and maybe this blog post isn’t for you….because you are going into this single minded not wanting to actually understand what I am about to express.  Nor, do you really know me as a person and want a place to rant and rave as if everything we have done isn’t enough.  I will make this statement now….It was the right call….but it was terrible timing. 

Now in saying that…. I wouldn’t have changed a single thing about what happened this past weekend in New York City.  Now…I am going to talk a little bit about “me” here so forgive me if it seems insensitive as to what was going on around the outskirts of the marathon course….I’m simply expressing my journey…..that is why I ended up in NYC in the first place…. for the NYC Marathon on behalf of Team Fox.

So upon the rise and shine at 3am on Friday to make it to the airport in time to catch our connecting flight in Charlotte to JFK …. I hated I still felt this tension of “Should I be doing this”…I let the words on social media sites allow me to feel guilty for keeping my word….(which is something I don’t think happens as often as it use to.)   Upon leaving I grabbed some Team Fox stickers and stuck them all over our carry on luggage and tied my orange shoes to the top of my bag.  This is why we are doing this….

 I kept checking the flights of Mom & Kelly, and Holli & Melanie’s departing through DC and LaGuardia.  So far so good…..  We arrived at JFK no problem…actually 20 minutes early.  I had been in a panic trying to pre-arrange a ride to the hotel from the airport….there was a gas crisis and I wasn’t sure of the details…also they were requiring 3 people to be in a car to cross over the bridge into the city.  Upon leaving the plane we made our way to the public transportation line.  I had asked a representative at the transportation help desk her opinion….she said you could share a cab/flat fee…in the midst of me standing there another couple walked up asking the same questions….the representative said “She is looking to get into Manhattan why don’t you all share a cab and go together”…  Well…talk about pressure…. The gentleman had a Livestrong backpack and I hoped deep down they were runners and had some sort of common ground.  I assume there was a 2 second judgment period taking place then we kinda picked up our bags and said “OK”….  We made our way out to the cabs (No line to wait in and easy)…upon talking they were from California….they’d run the NYC Marathon a few times and were so excited for this to be my first time.  They had run in the London Marathon last year and we shared lots of running stories and laughs.  (Perfect)….  He was teasing Brock upon his first experience in NYC when a cab pulled up next to us and was yelling and honking his horn….he chuckled and said “Welcome to NYC” my friend.

Upon arrival to the hotel and getting settled, mom and Kelly arrived not too long after…Accomplishment #1 they made it J  They shared a ride with someone as well who was running in the marathon…they even met someone not too far from us….small world.

We went and enjoyed a lunch….walked around a little bit to take in the city.  Mom kept saying “Ohhhh the city smell”.  J  Weird… kidding!  We got back to the hotel to get checked in and settle in a bit before going to dinner.  Mom drifted off to sleep…Kelly was getting ready and Brock and I went down to the lobby to wait on them…. Upon entering the lobby restaurant they had a big screen TV displaying news station and a big banner running across the bottom of the screen displayed “NYC MARATHON CANCELLED”….  I think Brock was scared of the edge I might fall off…..REALLY….you’re going to tell me this FRIDAY NIGHT....after all this months of preparing….months of promising this to my dad…this goal… everything in a split second just rushed over me.  I was speechless…my phone started buzzing with messages, texts, notifications, emails, etc…. I just didn’t even know what to say…..A sense of failure somehow snuck up over me….  (and again before someone wants to stomp all over my emotions that’s fine but these are my feelings).  Yes…a sense of failure…tears didn’t seem appropriate but I questioned them for a slight second of discouragement.  And again…it isn’t the REASON…..it’s the TIMING.  This marathon wasn’t for ME….it was FOR a purpose.  In our lobby were runners from France….Italy…. and other locations…. A gentleman had just walked in with his Expo bag in hand filled with all his marathon registration..and I kinda tried to speak to him to show him the news and then I realized he didn’t speak English and I don’t think he knew what I was saying…but then he saw the news….and then I wasn’t sure what he was saying but I don’t think it was great.  I messed Holli & Melanie as I knew they currently where in flight from Charleston to DC….and at least wanted them to know…..

I will re-address my previous statement….I don’t blame the reason…..just the timing.  As a marketing person I almost immediately questioned if it wasn’t some sort of set up to get all these people into the city to spend money without having to actually put on the marathon.  So please refrain from the negatively opinions of everything else I should have been doing at that point and time and how I should have been feeling.  I can’t help but feel a little frustration when they allowed the NBA games to go on….as well as the football games….but yet the marathon was getting blasted left and right.  The food and water for runners should be used to help those who need it more….however there were concession stands etc at the games?  I’m not arguing the point…don’t get me wrong…I’m just a little questionable as to why one got so much negative publicity against the others.   The marathon raised millions of dollars for Sandy Relief in a matter of days…we were giving back to the city….runners donated their clothing….money...I don’t understand at what point we were such terrible people.  I did enjoy a good laugh over a Facebook post stating “All these runners are so selfish coming into our city wanting to run for Prize Money”….  Ummmm I’m going to assume you weren’t referring that post to me personally because I knew when I made this decision 6 months ago to do this, I wasn’t doing it for the prize money nor did I even have a shot by at least 20,000 people to be in contingency for it.  But almost everyone else I have encountered through this…they aren’t doing it for the prize money…somewhere you have missed “the runners” point, that you so categorized as “THE RUNNERS…..those TERRIBLE RUNNERS”.  I guess this has hit me soooo hard and bothered me soooo much because these people were all telling us what we should be doing….not having a clue what we’ve been through or done to already get there.  I know it shouldn’t get to me the way it was….but it did.  I just know going back a month ago when I was running a 3 hour run to dedicate this journey to Parkinson’s  maybe one of these hypocrites were sitting on a boat on a lake enjoying themselves….I never felt internally to myself “That person is selfish…I’m out here running for Parkinson’s and you’re just out there sitting on a boat drinking beer”….. We all do the best that we can and try to do what I can…..I should have avoided the social media…it really really bothered me.  (Can you tell?)  I’m so sorry for devastation, and I was ready to make the most of whatever we had.  I just felt bad at the travel expenses it took for those supporting me to get there….and everything in between when the timing of the announcement of the cancelling should have been sooner (I realize this isn’t comparable to what others are going through….but I see devastating stories go on everyday….I’m not taking away from it..I’m just telling my story)….however, I’m also grateful is wasn’t, because like many other blessings…..this was in disguise.  There is so much I wouldn’t have gotten to be a part of it they had cancelled the marathon sooner.

On Saturday they presumed with the Team Fox Dinner……so we all gathered at the restaurant filled with “Team Foxers”….met some new ones I hadn’t had the chance yet….and put some faces to some voices/names.  Most of all….standing at the entrance to greet everyone was no other than Michael J. Fox himself.  The inspiration to all of this that displays that One Person Can make a difference.  I hugged him and he knew I was to be a runner for the marathon.  A million things raced through my mind to get to this moment…..and I hardly knew what to do.  We proceeded into the dining room and sat at a table surrounded by others involved with the Parkinson’s Community.  Sharing stories and so much more it was such a wonderful evening.  It was an evening that was good for the soul and it was nice to share in laughter after everyone having mixed emotions about it all.  Michael J Fox’s speech gave light to the evening as well….and you know it speaks volumes to have someone so involved with their own charity, some it’s only a name connection….and he….he’s the inspiration behind it all.   This is definitely a group I want to stay involved with and do everything I can to help make tomorrow a better day for Parkinson’s Patients.

 

Now….on Marathon Sunday….it may not have been exactly how it had been planned….but like I said….runners make the best of everything they can.  We set out on a mission…and we were going to complete it.  At the Team Fox Dinner we met the Creator of Charity Miles (You all have heard me rave about this app many times)….what an awesome person!  Probably my biggest inspiration to get a iPhone so I could get the app J  He announced some were still meeting at Central Park to get a run in….we were meeting other Team Foxers around 9:30.  Well to my surprise it was an AMAZING event.  I really didn’t have true intensions of running 26.2 miles that day….I just thought we were going to run…and the atmosphere took over.  Brock and I ran to Central Park (Yes the little sprinter ran about 3 ½ miles there with me)…. Once we got closer to the entrance we could hear cheering, cow bells, whistles, clapping and more.  These runners and charity goers were doing exactly what they came to NYC to do……run for their cause.  I took off on the first lap (6 mile loops in Central Park)….thinking I would just run a loop with my new found Team Fox Friends…..the atmosphere was marathon frenzy….supporters all around the loop at the park….cheering for “Team fox”…or even yelling Missy (My jersey had my name on it)….  I got my 1^st lap in (a lot faster than I anticipated…adrenaline gets me EVERYTIME)….  2^nd lap I kept going and another Team Fox Runner met up with me and chatted…I even was asked “How many people did you bring up here…they are everywhere”…. I said there are 5 of them but they are professional race location specialistJ. I had in my head that I would run 2 laps after I bypassed the 1^st one…upon finishing the 2^nd one…I was egged on by “Charity Miles Guy’’…sorry I keep wanting to call you that…his real name however is Gene J…..and Brock volunteered to run a lap with me….so lap 3 here we go J  I think Brock learned a thing or 2 about the running world during that lap.  He had on the Team Spangler shirt, and everyone was cheering “Go Team Spangler”….handing out water…Oreo cookies, pretzels, and so forth.  See distance runners may be crazy…but they are awesome! J  Complete strangers wanting to help those seeking to still get their promised marathon in…..one word…. “Amazing”….  Thank you for your support along our journey and reason for being in NYC…..  we all have a story why we were running that marathon…and thanks to all of you standing along the side, cheering, runners supporting runners….maybe this experience was worth more than the actual marathon itself.  I had no intention to run that far when I woke up that morning, I hadn’t prepped like I would have for the actual marathon for that specific day…and I just couldn’t stop once I got there.  Between the run to the park, around the park..and even some walking later that day….my GPS actually had me going 29 miles…  So there dad….how about a few extra miles…just because J

 

This experience left me wanting to do more….this is something that truly helped me feel a part of something bigger….and I am looking into a few other races to set goals for now.  Possibly Miami in January…and even the marathon in CA that goes through the vineyard hills with our new Team Fox friends we made…… 

Thank you to the best support group a girl could ask for. I had the best cheering section in the park…I am somehow not surprised they found pathways to run to get to a couple spots during the loop at the park….must be all the Cross Country experience for that J  I couldn’t have reached our goal without each of you who helped support with donations and involvement…I received a $100 donation today that I will be mailing in tomorrow that is the icing on the cake for this adventure….today we were at $9,983…so that will put us at $10,083.  That my friends….is called achieving a goal….something dad has taught so many of us to do….and I couldn’t have done it without the entire group of “Team Spangler”

Now…I will go back to complaining about how sore my legs are and walking funny if you don’t mind…hopefully only for a few more days J  Having some little kid ask me when I was walking down the steps in the city “Are you ok?”…..made me realize I may not be pulling off a normal walking pattern after all J 

Stay tuned….there will be lots more to come! J