Celebrating a Fantastic Opportunity

One year ago, Aaron Burros offered me the opportunity to run the Boston Marathon as his support runner.?

What a privilege.?

I've never been a fast runner, and at 68, I wasn't getting any faster. But when an opportunity appears to do what you never imagined, you have to take it.?

Those who follow me know I encourage individuals to think bigger and reach higher to do what they thought impossible. In this post, I share one of those incredible moments.?

Impossible

As a 65-69-year-old man, I would have needed to run a qualifying race in 4 hours and 5 minutes to qualify for the Boston Marathon. I am not that fast a runner.?

Another way to qualify is to be accepted and raise $10,000 for a charity. I am not a great fundraiser, so that seemed out of reach.?

Before meeting Aaron, this was so far outside my world that I couldn't imagine ever having the opportunity.?

But then Aaron offered a way that I had never heard of.?

A support runner works with a Para Athlete to help them complete the race. It is a service you provide to help another run the 26.2 miles. The benefit is that I received entry into the race without qualifying or paying a fee. I did have to pay my own travel expenses. Can't beat that, right? The downside is that I would not receive an official entry, bib, or recognition. My name did not appear on any of the publications, websites, etc. But that was alright because I would enjoy the experience and receive a coveted medal. For that, I would gladly shine the spotlight on my runner and help him finish.?

I had served as Aaron's support runner twice before. I ran the 2022 New York City Marathon with him and was amazed by his sense of service. Six times, he stopped to help fellow runners. I was also impressed with the Para Athletes. Given that only 1% of the population runs a marathon imagine those with mobility challenges, missing limbs, and loss of hearing or sight push themselves to do what many without those issues never imagine. Then, recognize that the support runners must match the Para Athlete's pace. The support runner doesn't run their own race but matches the Para Athlete's stride. That's impressive.?

I ran with Aaron in Tokyo as he sought his coveted Abbot Six Star World Marathon Majors medal. Unfortunately, due to the bullet lodged deep in his right glute muscle, we missed the second cutoff at the 11K (7 miles). I hurt for Aaron. He knows his body is slowly failing. That might have been his last shot to finish that prestigious challenge.

Meanwhile, I knew I could have made that cutoff. But, as the support runner, I must stay with my runner. After all, it is not about me.?

So when Aaron offered me the chance to run Boston, I knew the conditions. He had run it three times before, each time as a charity runner raising $10,000. This was a privilege.?

Feeling a little guilty that I was getting the best part of the deal, I asked, "How do I help you?"

"Without you, I would quit when my leg starts to hurt."?

His PTSD can be triggered at any moment. In his quest to run 50 marathons in 50 states in 50 weeks in 2021, rain, smokers, and gunshots left him debilitated and forced him to quit. My job was to help him rise above anything that would mess with his mind. That means providing a barrier from other runners, talking to him throughout the race, and helping him if something does happen.?

That moment came on the famed Heartbreak Hill. This progressive four-hill sequence is the challenge of the race. Aaron's strategy of walking uphill and running down worked well. We were on pace for a 6:30 finish, which would have been fantastic for either of us. But as he ascended the fourth and final stretch, he was to my left when I saw his right leg buckle. He caught himself and stopped.?

"You ok?"

"My leg gave out."?

"What do you need?"

"I have to walk. I can't run anymore."?

He told me later that he would have quit had I not been with him. We walked the next 6+ miles and finished in 7:13. He was the last official finisher. (You must finish the race 6 hours after the last runner crosses the start line. Given that we started in the Para Athlete corral immediately after the fastest runners and the last runner started over an hour later, we had additional time.)?

I ran and finished the Boston Marathon even though my name does not appear in the records. Nevertheless, I did it. But it wasn't about me.?

Incredible Opportunities

There are incredible opportunities to serve. Suppress your ego, step out of the limelight, and help another. From that, you will find amazing ways to do what you never imagined.?

As I write this, I'm watching the 128th running of the Boston Marathon. Memories of last year flood my mind, and tears fall down my cheeks as I recall each step of the race. I am conscious that this opportunity was out of my reach without Aaron's invitation.?

I am Loren Murfield, Ph.D., helping individuals think bigger and reach higher to do what they never imagined. Stay tuned to be the first to read my new book release, Just One More: How I Ran 6 Marathons in the Year I Turned 68.?