Yesterday’s marathon race was a real joy, for Sr. Anna Rose, Anna (our postulant, who ran the 10k), and myself. Here are a few highlights.
Sr. Anna Rose’s started her retreat once she got home, so I’m going to do my best to speak for her here! Her race was in many ways a continuation and fulfillment of the period of training: she ran with Sole Sisters team members for pretty much the entire race. Colleen and Kyle kept her company and in good spirits throughout the steamy course (the day started in the mid- 60’s and climbed to the 80’s, with sun for much of the morning).
And as she ran, she really had the experience of offering her body as a sacrifice and trusting that the sacrifice was bearing fruit. This sacrifice she offered was enabled by Christ’s own sacrifice of his Body, which we had received the evening before at Mass – as the opening prayer at Mass said, “Almighty ever-living God, constantly accomplish the Paschal Mystery within us, that those you were pleased to make new in Holy Baptism may, under your protective care, bear much fruit and come to the joys of life eternal.” Amen! (Her chip time was 5:19 – great for a first marathon!)
Anna ran a speedy 10K (chip time 56:41, placing 13th in her division!). Gratitude was a major theme for her: though it was hard for her in some ways not to be part of a longer race, she was still able to run, and to run well!
Gratitude was also a big part of the day for me – and learning to receive the gifts God (and those who stand in his place) gives. I felt GREAT for the first 20 miles or so of the race, and every time people would cheer or another runner would offer encouragement, I would thank them, reciprocate, start a conversation, etc. But the last miles were pretty rugged – it was so hot (and I really don’t “do” heat), I had a blister forming, I was feeling nauseous, and finally I was practically the only person around me still running, which was discouraging!
To give some idea, I passed 113 people between miles 6.2 and 13.1, 143 between miles 13.1 and 18.6, and another 123 from 18.6 to the finish line at 26.2 (no, I was not counting – those numbers are on the results page!). Anyway, I was so focused on simply moving forward that I ran right past dear friends who were cheering for me at mile 20 and from mile 21 or 22 on, I couldn’t even bring myself to acknowledge any of the cheering and encouragement I was receiving – and which I DESPERATELY needed! So I just received it, unable to repay any of those who were helping me. And I realized that this is basically the way our lives are. We receive our lives and eternal life as gratuitous gifts from God which we will never be able to repay, and we spend our lives indebted to one another for acts of kindness, love, and service – seen and unseen. We will never be able to “pay our way”, but we can be grateful (my chip time was 4:09).
And Team Sole Sisters IS GRATEFUL! Thank you for those who have been training and running with us, those who have been praying with us, those who came to our talks about the marathon in the Cleveland area, and those who have donated to our community as part of this event.
As Vince, the 90-something-year-old gentleman who comes often to prayer in our chapel said to me this morning as he congratulated me, “We are all on the same team!”
Sr. Agnes Therese Davis, T.O.R.
