I think it is incredible that you participated in the marathon. You’re a badass and your grace for yourself made me cry. It’s achingly beautiful when people can hold themselves with kindness and love.
The line that you were running for Mia really sent me over the edge 🥹. She is so proud of you and I’m sure she was running right alongside with you. Ahhh I’m crying again. (We lost Jack, our 15 year old pup this year & it’s still raw)
Sending you so much love in your time of grief and triumph.
> And so, I landed on the truth: “It was my slowest race. It was also my best.”
I'm with you on the stabby knee pain. This year my knee has kept me away from long runs. One day maybe I will do a marathon. I'm so happy you committed and completed, and those last 10mi sound amazing. ❤️
Congratulations on listening to both your knee and your inner "knowing" that got you over the finish line with such grace. Hard race, best race. Love your perspective shift on success. Wise, Caroline, wise! And how perfectly apt the Temperance card is for all that.
Woohoo! Cheers to winning the NYC marathon!! 🙌 Seriously, I can't think of anything more life-affirming than tackling something this hard, and continuing even when you feel like it might be impossible. What a beautiful way to honor Mia and your other loved ones.
And I'm sure you completed the NYC marathon faster than I completed the Marine Corps Marathon. I got the flu two weeks before race day, decided to try anyway (despite not being able to walk up a flight of stairs without getting winded?!), and couldn't run another step after mile 10. So I walked 16 miles alongside a Vietnam vet with dozens of pieces of metal holding his leg together. If he hadn't struck up a conversation, I absolutely would've quit.
IMHO, walking a good chunk of the marathon—and deciding to complete it anyway—shows as much (or more) tenacity than running the whole thing!
Dear Caroline Huge congrats!! I really loved your perspective. I didn´t get into NYC this year and ran Istanbul´s marathon on the same day and in a similar vibe as you: at a slower pace to soak up the amazing experience (a win!). The world is so messed up right now but all the runners in Istanbul from the East-West-Africa etc. on the ferry to the starting line were dancing together to live music to get pumped up and face timing their families to share the joy before starting on our 42K journey. It was an injection of hope, positivity, and inspiration! xx
I loved this newsletter so much. I was there cheering for my sister, who had a similar experience and decided not to go for the PR, but enjoy the experience. She said it was her favorite marathon ever!
Without question, the best marathon for anyone, ever. Slow and steady wins, as they say. This is proof. And that last pic, with everyone grinning elatedly, is pure temperance gold. ♥️💪
I recently lost my beloved soul cat, and I totally and completely understand how and why you tapped into your beloved dog's wisdom in a tough moment. How wonderful it is to have moments when we realize we have absorbed their unconditional love into our very cells, and that it goes on, steadying and buoying us in hard times. She was with you every step of the way.
Congratulations on your success! That’s an amazing achievement, by any standard, and please don’t forget that! 🥳
Again, you have drawn a very timely card. It’s that season when us makers and crafters kick into the last minute holiday panic. Temperance (and the Leonard Cohen quote) are a great reminder that *done* is always better than nothing, even if it is not perfect (and who would know but us anyway?). The folks who receive our handmade gifts will love them *because* we put our time and love into them, so it doesn’t have to be absolutely perfect every single time.
Your essay is also a great reminder to enjoy the process, think of who it’s about, and put that love into what we’re doing.
Time to get back to the crochet projects...we’re still on a deadline, but I can enjoy what I’m doing too 🥰
About twenty years ago, I attempted to do a 20-mile WALK for hunger (appropriately titled The Walk For Hunger) and sprained my ankle falling off a curb between miles 2 and 3. I've been too scared to do any organized walk or run since!!
So, you're a hero for signing up, for having a plan, for listening to your body, for showing up, and for doing your best. You literally had every reason to blow it off, but you didn't. That's the type of hero Bonnie Tyler was singing about!!
"I am in a season of wanting to embrace the shit out of things" - what a great way of dealing with your grief and what a brilliant way of showing it - and then writing about it with so much grace and humour. A wonderful essay. Thank you!
Caroline, you always, always, always win at perspective. It's one of your super powers. Keep on running girl. (or walking). Moving is so important. Right up there with thinking : )
I feel like this is what long-distance running does for us, having those realizations and reflections that we don't tend to find on a daily basis. Thank you for sharing your perspective. I am sure I will recall this post the next time I am feeling lots of feelings mid-race. Congrats on finishing, I think just attempting these things should feel like an achievement.
I think it is incredible that you participated in the marathon. You’re a badass and your grace for yourself made me cry. It’s achingly beautiful when people can hold themselves with kindness and love.
The line that you were running for Mia really sent me over the edge 🥹. She is so proud of you and I’m sure she was running right alongside with you. Ahhh I’m crying again. (We lost Jack, our 15 year old pup this year & it’s still raw)
Sending you so much love in your time of grief and triumph.
> And so, I landed on the truth: “It was my slowest race. It was also my best.”
I'm with you on the stabby knee pain. This year my knee has kept me away from long runs. One day maybe I will do a marathon. I'm so happy you committed and completed, and those last 10mi sound amazing. ❤️
Congratulations on listening to both your knee and your inner "knowing" that got you over the finish line with such grace. Hard race, best race. Love your perspective shift on success. Wise, Caroline, wise! And how perfectly apt the Temperance card is for all that.
Thank you, Samantha ❤️
Woohoo! Cheers to winning the NYC marathon!! 🙌 Seriously, I can't think of anything more life-affirming than tackling something this hard, and continuing even when you feel like it might be impossible. What a beautiful way to honor Mia and your other loved ones.
And I'm sure you completed the NYC marathon faster than I completed the Marine Corps Marathon. I got the flu two weeks before race day, decided to try anyway (despite not being able to walk up a flight of stairs without getting winded?!), and couldn't run another step after mile 10. So I walked 16 miles alongside a Vietnam vet with dozens of pieces of metal holding his leg together. If he hadn't struck up a conversation, I absolutely would've quit.
IMHO, walking a good chunk of the marathon—and deciding to complete it anyway—shows as much (or more) tenacity than running the whole thing!
Dear Caroline Huge congrats!! I really loved your perspective. I didn´t get into NYC this year and ran Istanbul´s marathon on the same day and in a similar vibe as you: at a slower pace to soak up the amazing experience (a win!). The world is so messed up right now but all the runners in Istanbul from the East-West-Africa etc. on the ferry to the starting line were dancing together to live music to get pumped up and face timing their families to share the joy before starting on our 42K journey. It was an injection of hope, positivity, and inspiration! xx
I loved this newsletter so much. I was there cheering for my sister, who had a similar experience and decided not to go for the PR, but enjoy the experience. She said it was her favorite marathon ever!
Without question, the best marathon for anyone, ever. Slow and steady wins, as they say. This is proof. And that last pic, with everyone grinning elatedly, is pure temperance gold. ♥️💪
I recently lost my beloved soul cat, and I totally and completely understand how and why you tapped into your beloved dog's wisdom in a tough moment. How wonderful it is to have moments when we realize we have absorbed their unconditional love into our very cells, and that it goes on, steadying and buoying us in hard times. She was with you every step of the way.
Congratulations on your success! That’s an amazing achievement, by any standard, and please don’t forget that! 🥳
Again, you have drawn a very timely card. It’s that season when us makers and crafters kick into the last minute holiday panic. Temperance (and the Leonard Cohen quote) are a great reminder that *done* is always better than nothing, even if it is not perfect (and who would know but us anyway?). The folks who receive our handmade gifts will love them *because* we put our time and love into them, so it doesn’t have to be absolutely perfect every single time.
Your essay is also a great reminder to enjoy the process, think of who it’s about, and put that love into what we’re doing.
Time to get back to the crochet projects...we’re still on a deadline, but I can enjoy what I’m doing too 🥰
About twenty years ago, I attempted to do a 20-mile WALK for hunger (appropriately titled The Walk For Hunger) and sprained my ankle falling off a curb between miles 2 and 3. I've been too scared to do any organized walk or run since!!
So, you're a hero for signing up, for having a plan, for listening to your body, for showing up, and for doing your best. You literally had every reason to blow it off, but you didn't. That's the type of hero Bonnie Tyler was singing about!!
"I am in a season of wanting to embrace the shit out of things" - what a great way of dealing with your grief and what a brilliant way of showing it - and then writing about it with so much grace and humour. A wonderful essay. Thank you!
Thank you, Jeffrey! I’m so glad it resonated.
Caroline, you always, always, always win at perspective. It's one of your super powers. Keep on running girl. (or walking). Moving is so important. Right up there with thinking : )
💖✨bernadette in northern new mexico
Thank you! 💕 (and oh, I have been wanting to (re)visit Northern New Mexico for some time now... hopefully this year!)
This writing made me tear up. Lovely. I love how you changed your mentality. It is not easy to do but is best. Congrats on your win!
Loved this post so much-- and kudos to you for completing the marathon amidst so many challenges!!
You did the thing! What an amazing way to honor both Mia and yourself ✨
And thanks for the housekeeping heads up, I did miss that letter. Will sort out the subs page tonight ☺️
I feel like this is what long-distance running does for us, having those realizations and reflections that we don't tend to find on a daily basis. Thank you for sharing your perspective. I am sure I will recall this post the next time I am feeling lots of feelings mid-race. Congrats on finishing, I think just attempting these things should feel like an achievement.