It’s Friday the 13th, what a date to officially kick off the most epic journey of my life. The day brings rain, lightening and thunderstorms in LA, it’s ok it’s not like we are flying anywhere, oh wait we are: It begins tonight on a red eye to Boston. The whole day was rather amazing. I get an email from the director of the Spirit Movie: Hey Julie we want you to meet Kathrine Switzer when you get to Boston and film your meeting. Kathrine Switzer, the first official woman in the world to run a marathon? I get to meet her? Me? Do you have the right person? This is Julie, your 40 something year old mother of two, middle of the pack marathon runner, running 52 of them, but still. Then I get an email from Kathrine to arrange our meeting. I am dreaming again right? Nope. This is my life. Ok, breathe Julie just breathe. So it’s off to the airport. David places his bag on the scale. The Jet Blue rep says: I am sorry sir your bag is over weight by 2 pounds. It weighed 52 pounds. Wow! I realize some of you may not see the significance here, but 52 pounds, 52 marathons?! I tried to get a picture of it, but people were waiting behind us watching a crazy lady take a picture of a scale my seem inappropriate. Oh well.
We arrive safely in Boston and the red eye has taken its toll. It is a rest day for me. And I chose to unpack and just sleep all day and by the end of the day, I am ready to party. Still wondering why I brought ten running shirts with me? I guess I will learn with experience that I really only needed one.
I get word they are offering a deferment for the marathon due to the heat. There is no question, I will run through heat, cold, snow, rain, ice and come what may. This journey is about spirit, not speed (good, now I have an excuse to run slow). All kidding aside this is time to reflect and remember why I am doing this. To show how the devastating loss of my father, my number one fan to Pancreatic Cancer has made my passion for running shine through and for my commitment of changing the course of this awful disease. Stay tuned for day 2, we are off to the expo and as Marathon Goddess meets Marathon Woman, Kathrine Switzer. WOW!
