I was going back over 2015 in my head. I thought about some new friends of Chris and mine from Virginia, the Rickard's. The wife of this dynamic duo is Pam. I first met Pam in the pages of book given to me by my wife, Chris. The book, "A Race Like No Other," by LIz Robbins, about the 2007 New York City Marathon. Ok...I think I need to go back and set this up:
In November of 2014 I turned 49. I decided that I was going to have my "best year yet" as I exited my 40's and launched into my 50's! What better way to cap off this "best year yet" then to run the BIGGEST marathon in the world, the New York City Marathon! I knew it ran the first Sunday of November each year, which in 2015 was November 1st....8 days before I turned 50. Now, fast forward to Christmas 2014. Chris and I have a little "tradition" that we do when exchanging gifts to each other. We normally set a small budget between $50 or so TOTAL, which requires one to get VERY creative. A number of years ago, I set a theme to my gifts and we have been doing that ever since. Well in 2014, Chris' theme for me centered around "Running Your Race" with the NYC Marathon being the dream/target. Among other things, Chris gave me the book with a note that said, "It's time to Run Your Race...NYC here we come!"
I began to read this book, and with each page it got me inspired more and more that I HAD to get into this marathon (I won't discuss here, but there are about 4 ways to gain entry into the NYC Marathon and each of them, the odds are not in your favor!). In this book, the author, Liz Robbins, "follows" the journey of a number of runners: some elite/professionals and other "Jane's and Joe's." The constant: everyone has a story to their journey. One of these people was Pam Rickard. Pam's journey grabbed me. I kept waiting to when she would show back up in the pages of this book (I would highly encourage this book, whether you are a runner or not). Shortly after the beginning of 2015, I was out on the NYC Marathon Facebook page and there was a picture posted of Pam and a NYPD Officer. I believe I commented on it and Pam replied to my comment. I was floored. So I did what most of us would do....I trolled her Facebook page and asked her to be my "friend." She accepted! Blown away again. Over the next months leading to the marathon, we had good FB posts of encouragement and mostly me just tracking ALL the cool things she was doing. Here is where we get to the title of today's blog. Pam invited Chris and I to meet up with her and her husband Tom, the day before the race at a running shop on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. Here's a pic to our meeting:
Pam is all over the country running, meeting with people, mostly connecting with others. If connecting is a "spiritual gift," I believe Pam is flowing in it. She tags many posts with "#runningconnectsus" and it's so true.
I think about all those that partnered with me to help the families of St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital as I ran as a St. Jude Hero. We don't know all that those funds will do, but we do know that it is making a difference: Running Connects Us
All those that have been influenced by Miss Robbin's book and did something they never thought possible: Running Connects Us
I recently connected Pam with another friend who shares a similar journey and passion to see a community healed. I don't know where this will go, but: Running Connects Us
Maybe it's someone reading this that is being inspired to go after something bigger than themselves...whether it's a running/fitness goal or something else: Running Connects Us
It all started with a dream to run a race and a "random" Christmas gift (side note: I asked Chris what prompted her to order this specific book? She said that when looking, it STOOD out to her....coincidence, fate, chance, luck or a "gentle leading?"). Your path is YOUR PATH..."let us run with endurance the race God has set before us." Hebrews 12:1b
So as you travel down the path on your journey, my encouragement to you today is to "Run YOUR Race," and remember, RUNNING CONNECTS US!
