This Sunday is one of those “Day of Days” for me. It’s a day I’ve anticipated for precisely a year and one I’ve trained for over five months. The bad news first — 26.2 miles on foot is daunting no matter how many times I’ve done it before and how much I trained. The good news — incredible inspiration and the qualities of courage will be on display everywhere I run.

The Game Plan

The dream has been in place - the challenge to push me close to my limit. And the inspiration —to say I did it with a finisher’s medal as proof. The next step to success is the game plan. Using my experience, I draw up the blueprint for this Sunday’s Marine Corps Marathon.

·       Start slow

·       Maintain that pace

·       Begin to pray at the half-marathon mark

·       Refuse to quit from mile 20 on

·       Find a way to close it out

My plan is the same as it has always been for each of my marathons and quite simple. Of course, when I say simple, that’s naivety talking. Once in the heat of the action, I will battle the inevitable physical deterioration, if not pain, and the mental question of, “Why did I put myself through this again?”

It may seem drudgery, but before anyone feels sorry for me, read on. As many of you know, there is no place like Washington, DC, as it elicits feelings like no other place in the world. The entire world and future of humanity revolve around these buildings. Behind the many closed doors I will pass, decisions that affect everything are made, for better or worse. As for the good news I mentioned above, I will have a fast-foot tour of our history. I sense it will be a fabulous journey.

History Lessons Galore

To win, it helps to know what’s upcoming. As I tell my hitting students, “You get to watch the pitcher before you go up to home plate as he warms up and faces other hitters. There is no reason to be surprised when up there as to what you will see.” One must take advantage of every bit of knowledge and inspiration to avoid the unknown and gain any available edge.

So, having never been on the marine marathon course before, I read up on the race. My surprise is of a pleasant sort, which creates an anticipation that is through the roof. Not only will I have a history lesson, but the surroundings will create necessary mind diversions. As distance runners know, the ability to have mind-escapes from pain and boredom is a dream come true. Each historical site will stir thoughts that will help while away the miles. Of course, just like running the marathon, painful thoughts come with our country’s checkered past, but the sites will be a necessary reminder of where we have been and how we got here. Below are some of the sights to behold and an indication of where my mind will go when seeing them.

Historical Run Indeed

The Pentagon – thoughts will come easily here as I will think of one of our country’s darkest days — September 11, 2001. I will pray for those who lost their lives and give thanks with a salute to those who fought to save others that day.

Arlington national cemetery — I will think of President John F. Kennedy, one of only two presidents to be buried there, and I will no doubt recall the exact moment, day, and spot I was, at only eight years old, when I heard that President Kennedy had been killed. Some life moments like that one freeze us in time.

Georgetown – I’m sure I will think of the great Georgetown coach, John Thompson, and some of his tremendous basketball players like Patrick Ewing, Allen Iverson, Alonzo Mourning, and Dikembe Mutombo. In fact, I plan to use as one of my race mantras, “Dikembe Mutombo” which is impossible to say without the adrenaline going up.

Marine Corps War Memorial – just seeing those soldiers raising the American flag will inspire me not to quit until the job is done. With that motivation, I trust that I have done enough in training, and with God’s help, I will cross the finish line.  

Kennedy Center — I will think of lost hope and his famous line, “Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.”

Theodore Roosevelt bridge — I will think of my father-in-law, born in 1896, who saw and met Teddy Roosevelt in my hometown of Joliet, IL.

Lincoln memorial – Wow, I should be able to think about the significance of this site for miles and miles – with memories of our strongest-willed and perhaps the greatest president, Abraham Lincoln, and Martin Luther King Jr’s site for the I Have a Dream Speech. Having recently visited the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, I believe it’s worth everyone’s time to listen to his whole speech again.

Potomac river — To run along a river is always exhilarating for me, and this one especially so, as it has the history of the Civil War wading through it.

The Jefferson memorial will bring thoughts of the American Dream — “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.” Ah, if only it were true.

World War 2, Korean, and Vietnam memorials — I’m sure I will be fighting back the tears at each site while realizing the brutality of war. I will remember my uncle, one of the Band of Brothers, and his remarkable real brother, my dad, who also fought for our freedom. They were indeed “The Greatest Generation.”

Washington monument — I will think of the lines from the Hamilton play “Here comes the General,” which will help me hold my head high while thinking, “History has its eye on us.” Watching the play days before my recent marathons has become one of my pre-race, psyche-up traditions.

Constitution Avenue and the US Capitol building — another easy one here; how can I not think of the tragedy of January 6, 2020 — another of our darkest hours.

And the above are just for starters. There will be many more incredible tributes as the run will also take me by all the national museums and other momentous monuments. There are way too many to mention here, but they all represent fabulous portrayals of our past and places I hope to visit while in DC, just not during the run.  And, finally, two more lines from Hamilton, “Raise a glass to freedom” and “Let’s have another round tonight.” Amen

Yes, I know there will be pain during the marathon, but it will be beautiful pain as I think of the History of Us. I can’t think of a better way to spend five hours or so on a Sunday morning. Now, if I have a slower time than planned, you can bet it will be because of all the times I stopped to take pictures — that will be my story and I will stick with it. Happy Trails