26.2

     Well, it is 'truck window official'.  I've completed my first marathon.  Last Saturday I completed the Chickamauga Battlefield Marathon.  I've had a few days now to ponder the experiences of that day and the mixture of joy and frustration it contained.  In my pondering I've determined that all I did that day was finish.

26.2 miles in distance but more so a total battle of will between my aching knee and ankle that made running quite impossible for the last 10 miles and my mind and heart that made quitting intolerable, but I finished.

Not in the allotted time period for the race, but the window was left open for the few of us who remained (and for that I am grateful), but I finished.

I didn't run the race that I wanted, but I finished.  It didn't look like I thought it would, but I finished.

I did enjoy the brotherhood of Stephen Samsel who ran, walked, limped, prayed, and survived each step of the process, and WE finished.

It was a beautiful day with great sunshine, perfect temperature, and not a drop of rain; and I finished.

God gave me a healthy body to be able to begin running three years ago with the goal of a 5K, and I finished a marathon.  I finished.

When I got to the finish line I was greeted by a loving wife and 5 loving children, and I finished.

When my 3 year old saw my finishers medal he proclaimed, "Daddy, you won!", and I cried and finished.

It was joyous, painful, terrible and wonderful, and I finished.

It was achievement, frustration, challenge, and victory, and I finished.

It was the first of many, God willing, that I will finish.  And I can't wait for the next one I will finish.

As long as God allows me, I will finish.  And now I am a 'marathoner' because I finished.

Just finish.