He's Still My Hero

It started out just like the previous four races. Pre-race night jitters, packing and re-packing the car with any/everything imaginable for the race. Lists printed and ceremoniously marked off as items where loaded in the trunk. Trying to remain calm when obviously nerves were fully exposed.

Why is it still this way? Wouldn't you expect after the 2nd/3rd/4th time that this would become 'old hat'? Frantically re-checking and re-checking all the gear. Do we have enough warm clothing, do we have enough cool clothing in case it heats up? Do we have enough energy bars, Dasani bottles, etc.?

Traffic, where did all the traffic come from? It's downtown at 6am on a Sunday for Christ's sake! And why does the Houston Police Department block off one-way streets before the next intersection...if the road block doesn't give you the option to turn left or right and your on a one way street....you're not going anywhere. It was pretty funny watching that Metro bus ('Austin Powers') itself on a one way street!

Without enough time for a 'good luck', he was out of the car and headed to the starting line. I was trying to get him as close to the start, so he wasn't walking a long way in the cold. I hope he knows that I do pray for a him to have a 'great run'.

7am and I'm headed to Marathon Stop #1 (11 miles) (University Dr and Main St). I'm parked and unloaded by 7:30. Good thing because here comes the lead elite runners. You can always tell they are near..helicopters overhead give their location away. They arrive at 7:53, having ran 11 miles in 53 minutes! There are 8-9 men all running with the intensity of professionals. Their pace is record breaking so far and the prize money for a new course record is a great incentive. Seven minutes later another police motorcade and it's the female course leader. You Go Girl!

The girls and Granny arrive now and they begin the annual distribution of Kleenex, Pretzels, Orange slices, peppermints and Vaseline on a Stick! Thousands of runners come by. All of them thankful for the items we are providing. We're just thankful they are there and allowing us to watch them each battle a physical challenge! And then, I turned around and there he was...soaking wet with sweat and looking for a bottle of Dasani! After a quick snack, he's back on the road....DAMMIT!!! I didn't get to tell him 'good luck' this time either! I hope he knows that I'm praying for a 'great run'.

We quickly load up the cars and scramble to Marathon Stop #2 (Chimneyrock and Sugar Hill). This is mile 18 and it's 9:45am. Once again we set up our bench with all our goods we have brought to hopefully help all these courageous athletes. By now, the elite runners are resting at the finish line and reveling in the big $$$$ they've won for a new course record of 2 hours 7 minutes! GEEZ! Runners are passing by us and remembering us from Mile 11! They are so thankful and appreciative....for a mere peppermint...two pretzels or a slice of orange. You'd have thought we where handing them a cash prize! Then off in the distance I see that 'old familiar gait' and that sweaty wet white hand towel tossed over his left shoulder and know...he's made it to 18! Grabs another Dasani, tosses back half of a Power Bar and says.."I don't think I can make it!". "Yes you can...we'll see you at Mile 23". And off he goes..SHIT..I hope he knows that I'm praying for a 'great run'.

Repeat the load and scramble scene once again and we're off to Marathon Stop #3 (Shepherd at Memorial Dr.) Mile 23. Just passed what the runners call the WALL! It's 11:30 and now he makes that all to familiar turn onto Shepherd and smiles at us. He can see downtown in the distance...only 3 more miles. I snap a couple of photos, hand him the Dasani and he passes on another Power Bar. "I'm not going to make it," he says. "Yes you will" I say. He turns and heads for downtown. I think he knows that I'm praying for a 'great run'.

You guessed it...load and scramble another time. We've only got 30 minutes to relocate/park and get to the finish line. And with all the street closures and thousands of fans at the George R Brown Convention Center....this is going to be a challenge! OMG what would happen if he finished the race and we weren't there to cheer and yell and watch the tears fall! Horror! We luck out and find a parking place not far from the finish line and arrive there at noon. Now for the nerve racking wait....watching every man wearing a gray shirt and black shorts. Trying to decide from 100 ft away if that's the familiar gait of his or is he limping and now his gait is unrecognizable? We just watch and watch and watch and get more aggravated as people block our view of the finish line. We watch the clock and slowly it's ticking and more and more minutes are passing!! WHERE IS HE? IS HE OKAY? Please, please...I'm trying to will my eyes to find him!!!! and then...there it is, that unmistakable gait. The one I have memorized in my soul. Finished, done, fought the good fight and won! We cheer, yell, scream his name...and he uses his ears to find us in the crowd! He comes over to the fence that we are standing behind and grins. His GPS watch shows 5 hours 4 minutes. He's thrilled! We're all so very excited....Thanks God for a 'great run'!