Mile Dedications

It's that time again--marathon mile dedications.  

Dedicated To:

Mile 
1 The Glory of God, for the beauty of this day.
2 Scott, I wouldn’t be here without your support and willingness to handle the “mess” at home while I was away on long Saturday runs.
3 Mom & Dad, you have always supported me, no matter what my dream was/is.
4 Christina, my cheerleader, my sister.
5 The Marine Corps for its sacrifices and for making this race possible.
6 MTT Coaches
7 MTT teammates
8 Friends, family and neighbors who put up with my constant chatter about running
9 The people who will wear the layers of clothing I shed along the course.  
10 Tough Chiks and Mother Runners who inspire me.
11 Erica.  To long runs and TMI--we made it!
12 Meredeth, for helping make those long Wednesday runs fun and discovering friendship along the way.
13 Renee.  For Lupus.  For quiet hippie peace freaks. 
14 Matthew.  The next 3 miles are dedicated to my children to show them that even when it gets hard, we never give up.  
15 Nathan
16 Samuel
17 The Gauntlet 
18 Peace, for each one of us and for the world.
19 Adam.  I often hit the wall here.  This mile is a reminder that sometimes it is enough to put one foot in front of the other and just keep moving.
20 Megan and Michelle, you will always be my mile 20.
21 I beat the bridge!
22 Those who want to run but can’t.  Someday, I may not be able to run.  Until then, I’ll run for you.
23 GPPC, I will miss you at MCM’s mile 23 water stop, but you are in my heart.  I see Christ in each and every one of you.
24 Water.  A reminder that I have access to it whenever I need it along this course.  783 million people in the world do not.
25 Mothers around the world who run because they HAVE to in order to survive, not because they WANT to, like me.
26 Survivors and families of victims of the Boston Marathon bombing.
.2  Me!  Savor the finish.

Running Intersects with Education

Today has been a day of contrasts, where the haves and have-nots intersect.  I started my morning at my children’s elementary school.  I was meeting with the librarian and a group of other parents who will be coaches for this year’s Reading Olympics program. So many parents volunteered to coach, the librarian had to turn several away.  If our little school has a need, parents line up to meet that need.  Pretty lucky.  And easy to take for granted.

My next stop was at a local warehouse club.  I filled up the cart with fruit, granola bars and water, fulfilling a request from a PE teacher at a school just a few blocks from our church (for more about the neighborhood around our church: Neighborhood) He called our church, and the request was sent to me.  He is organizing his school’s participation in International Walk to School Day (you can read more about that here: http://www.walkbiketoschool.org/).  Funny, I had always assumed that the kids in this neighborhood lived in close enough proximity to the school to walk.  For various safety reasons, they ride the bus.

 

This particular school is one that several individuals in our congregation have made concerted efforts to spend time volunteering in the classroom.  It is one of the schools that did not receive full accreditation, missing benchmarks in both English and math.  Contrasts.  I started my drive about 6 miles north of this school on Chamberlayne Road at my children’s blue ribbon, parental presence everywhere, to another school off of Chamberlayne Avenue that is struggling in every way possible.  Low testing scores.  Very little parental involvement.  Kids in unpredictable living situations.  Kids who come to school hungry every day.  Certainly not a place where kids are ready to start the day learning.  Contrasts.

I’ve been giving this a lot of thought lately.  How my children’s school really doesn’t need ME, another can jump in and fill my spot.  My absence really wouldn’t be noticed.  If we are all truly investing in our children, ALL of our children, the haves and the have-nots, perhaps we should invest some of our energy into those schools who truly need us. I am still engaged in my own children’s lives, but my absence at their school is probably not going to impact their education.  But, what difference would my presence at a school in dire need make?  And, imagine the example that sets for my own children…

So, I arrived with my vanload of snacks, and there, at the edge of the parking lot, in a grassy area, no track, no soccer fields like the blue ribbon school I had just left was this PE teacher with several of his students.  They greeted me with such enthusiasm.  They were all eager to help me unload the car.  The teacher reminded them to use their manners, but this group remembered on their own.  They were excited about granola bars and apple slices.  I can’t remember the last time my own children were excited by those things. 

This PE teacher, he is so young and so energetic.  The kids respect and like him.  I thought to myself, "I hope he doesn’t burn himself out.”  One way to prevent burnout is for people to get involved and help.  He shared that he has recently begun a before-school running club and has 50 regulars.  50!  He needs help: adults to cheer the kids on, adults to run with the kids. Huh.  I run.  Didn’t I say something about hoping someone would trust me enough to run with me recently?  Bravery Huh.  That sounds like God speaking pretty loudly to me. Stay tuned…