Today was the infamous Triple Bypass run. For those of you unfamiliar, you run the Brooklyn bridge, the Manhattan bridge, and the Williamsburg bridge (and then of course you have to run BACK across the Williamsburg bridge...) as part of a 3 hour run. It's bananas. Last season I had a particularly hard run that day. I don't know what it was exactly, but it didn't feel good at all. Today felt 97 kinds of amazing.
We started off at Finish Line (Michael Conlon's physical therapy outfit) so we were warm and sheltered from any NY winter elements. Coach Christie got us started with her mission moment, which was first about her Dad, who is currently hanging onto remission, and then about her great friend Josie who passed away on Christmas eve of last year. Incredibly inspiring, and she speaks so beautifully. Then, it was my turn.
That's right - I decided to do my mission moment today. Last season, as you may recall, it took me all the way until the day before the race to get it out - but this season, as I'm the mission captain, I wanted to tell my story in front of the entire team, in an environment where it would hopefully give them some inspiration or motivation for a particularly tough run.
I once again cried throughout the entire thing like a huge asshole, but it's important to me that the team members know how special Grandpa is to me, and how much inspiration he has given me, and how special TNT is to me as a channel of paying tribute to my hero. I got through my story, and then during the run people actually used the story to keep them going. Lauren and Sarah yelled out "Miles for Grandpa!!!" at the top of one of the bridges, and then one of my mentees Eunice was having a tough time around mile 14, and she said "I want you to know that all I'm thinking about right now is your grandfather." That's what Grandpa does... he unifies everyone, he inspires and motivates, he reminds you to always believe, to keep going, and to never give up. I am so proud to be his granddaughter.
While he's not physically present on this spiritual plane any more, today he was there with every single one of us. And like a triple bypass lifts stress off the heart, today's triple bypass lifted my spirit. It felt amazing, for mind, body, and soul.
Rach, I wish you would stop calling yourself an asshole for crying through your friggin' mission moment. I didn't know Grandpa, but I highly doubt he would approve :)
ReplyDeleteYou're exactly like your Grandpa - you unify, inspire and motivate us all just by being you...yes, even when you cry :). We are SO lucky to have you this season and I love you to pieces. Get back from London soon!!!
xoxo
Sarah