From “I’ll Never Run a Marathon” to 250th Marathon

Bob Strauss(MM7421) – Would my 250th marathon feel any different? Would it be any easier? A majority of the Maritime Marathon miles are run right along Lake Michigan. Pelicans were out in force as were families enjoying some beach time. Lovers of nature consistently rate this as a beautiful course and I agree.
I had the pleasure of pacing a small but fantastic group of runners who coalesced into a Don’t Stop Believing team. The runners included a father and daughter who I had paced last year for their first marathons. They returned this year for marathon #2. Other team members were a mother of 4 who was running her first marathon, a fellow doing 26.2 in his state number 33. We also had another father/daughter stick with us for a number of the miles. Another runner had lost nearly 80 pounds, over the last couple of years, and was now proving that he could tackle this challenge too. As a pacer, I get the pleasure of being a coach, support team, drill sergeant, mental therapist and time manager. Best of all, I get to celebrate others as they share their stories and accomplish something special, having helped them believe they could do it.
Thanks go to my orthopedic surgeon who has given me 235 bonus marathons on metal hips. There are so many friends that I recognize helped me become a runner, people who contributed, each in their own way. People who showed me how to pick up the pace, do the miles, listen to the body, enjoy the camaraderie, feel the inner peace of a runner’s high. Carl Ruzicka, Tony Ruzicka, Dave Cohn, Jeff Newcorn, Mitch Friedman, Brian Dembo, Dave Schuster, race directors, pace team coordinators and so many others. For years I had told all of those accomplished distance runners that I had no interest in and would never run a marathon. In a weak moment, I registered for my first race. Shortly before the first marathon, Lesley, my loving, supportive wife, says to me “Do you really think you ought to be doing this?” Now there’s a vote of confidence. lol Of course she also caught the bug, started running several years later, and has now run about 135 marathons.
Does it get easier? Nope, but the pleasure keeps on growing. It’s the doing… the embracing of life… the celebration of others doing something hard… the enjoyment of enjoying… experiencing the crazy with Lesley.

Photo and Post Credit Bob Strauss