As the Indoor Marathon relay teams began to pack into the Pettit Center on Saturday, I suddenly became a person who hugs everyone. Fit Milwaukee had put together 10 teams for the event, but being part of the running community in Milwaukee means you start to see lots of friends at every event. I saw so many familiar faces, so many smiles, so much excitement! I could tell the energy was good, if bit nervous. I often tell people that being nervous is a good thing, it means you’re about to do something that’s important to you.
As a runner, the unique thing about the indoor marathon is that you pass your cheering section every few minutes. It was nice to know I’d have high fives, smiles, and screams waiting for me each time I came around the northeast corner. I’d rest a bit on the back side of the track, slowing where no one could see me, and then power up to breeze past the pumped-up cheering squad and use their energy to get me through another fast lap.
As a spectator watching an event that dozens of my friends were participating in, it would never be more than a few minutes before a familiar face would pass by and I could shout someone’s name to support them. Whether they were flying by like elites or pushing themselves through a difficult stretch, seeing everyone playing on the same field was a beautiful thing.
Most of the teams we assembled for Fit Milwaukee hadn’t met before the event. We mixed up all different ability levels and speeds of runners, and teams quickly came together to support each other as a unit — some even gathering as a team to run across the finish line together.
We stuck around to watch the final runners finish, some hobbling, some with tears in their eyes, some still smiling and living it up, and it became clear the real magic of this event:
Running is unique in that we do it alone, but we couldn’t do it alone.
We runners stick together, whether we’re laughing in packs or training on treadmills. We support each other, we learn from each other, and we bring up new runners. We all know what it’s like to struggle through a single mile and to triumph over fatigue. We give energy when we have none, we pat each other on the back, and we pay it forward.
This marathon relay will forever live in my memory as the day nervous energy translated loud and clear into abundant cheers, high fives, screams, squeals, and even few powerarches! The northeast corner of the Pettit center has never had it so good.
Fit Milwaukee, congratulations, and thank you for participating in the Indoor Marathon Relay. You inspire me!
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You translate your experiences so well. It’s as though I was there to experience it. Great story. You’re right on with the “Running is unique…”. With the tough mental and physical games played, we all need the inspiration of others to keep going. Thank you for sharing.
LOVE. And agree. Such an awesome, fun, amazing day. High fives to everyone!
Great post!! The part about slowing down on the back made me laugh because I did the same thing! Hehehe. This event was even better than last year. Thanks to FitMKE for organizing, and thank YOU for being an awesome team captain.
My day was amazing. The resilience of my team was amazing. Next year I will wear taller socks.
Thanks for your comments everyone! John, we wished you could be there, and I hope you can, next year! Krista, you were SO flying out there. You were a blur. Ali, loved having you on my team! Rachel, your team amazed me the most. Way to come together to get it done!
Saturday was very special. I had such a wonderful time sharing it with everyone and finally putting a face to so many names. And I also slowed down on the far side of the track. Hehehe.
Thank you to everyone associated with FitMKE for all the hard work putting this together and for all the cheering and encouragement!
Saturday was very special. I had such a wonderful time sharing it with everyone and finally putting a face to so many names. And I also slowed down on the far side of the track. Hehehe.
Thank you to everyone associated with FitMKE for all the hard work putting this together and for all the cheering and encouragement!
This was my first event with fitmke. I was astonished by the support. I have made new friends and have great memories to share forever.
just found you through the icebreaker blog. Looking fwd to following your journey!
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I LOVED this event and totally want to do it again this year!