Grandma's 35th Marathon (Part 2)

     We had shed the garbage bags a couple of miles into the race.  Thankfully, the wind was at our backs most of the way...that comes in handy when carrying a flag ☺ Though, if the wind changed from side to side, the flag had a way of mummifying me.  Not a problem, I just kept running as I unwrapped.  Temperatures seemed fine as long as you didn't stop.  Once stopped, you felt the chilly wind coming off of the lake, once chilled, it was hard to get the warm back.

Coming to mile 17-18 brings the runners into Duluth, where there are more spectators, even on a day when it is upper 40's with a chilly breeze.  The man from Atlanta had caught up with me.  He was checking up with me, sort of like a father-figure I guess you could say.  He asked, "How are you feeling'?" I answered, "Like I've been running with a flag for 18 miles, I'm finally tired, but I'm still smiling!"

The energy level rises whenever there are people cheering on the sidelines.  I heard people shouting, "Go America!" & "Go USA!"  as I passed.  Some were holding flags themselves.  People seemed to know me.  "There she is!  It's the flag girl!  The American girl!  You made it!  We've been waiting for you!"  What really threw me was people knew my name, who I didn't know.  "Go Jean!"  I heard several times.  I'd take a quick glance, smile, and say "thanks!"

Running with my husband, Dan

Seeing my husband around mile 20 brought tears to my eyes...he has a way of bringing out my emotions.  I was at a point where I was pretty tired, yet so elevated that I had made it that far.  It was a happy cry, and a quick one.  I found it difficult to cry and run at the same time.  He ran with me for about a mile and got to experience what it was like to escort the flag down a path of exuberant young volunteers during a water stand.  "U-S-A...U-S-A!" they would shout as they held out their hand for a high five while the flag was held high in the other hand.  There is just something to be said for a large crowd chanting in unison, especially when they are shouting for something you're doing...I just couldn't stop smiling!

Dan, my husband, ran with me until we came to my biggest fan club, my family.  My parents had made a surprise visit.  I had to make a quick stop for a kiss & a hug for them!  So good to see them!  My friend had made a large poster that my kids & cousins were holding that read, "Go Jean!  You can do it!  Thank you Vets!"  Then...they picked it up and ran with it!  It was awesome!

There is a hill around mile 22 known as Lemon Drop that anyone who has ran Grandma's knows of.  I had to walk a few times before then because I knew at the top there was going to be a photographer, Paul Walsh,  clicking away. One of the shots he captured is my profile picture...thumbs up and a big ol' smile!  I wanted to run up that monster.  It was almost as if the flag carried me up that hill.  You could tell all the runners around me were pretty tired...it was quiet between crowds of people.  But it was during those moments when I experienced such powerful messages.  There was an elderly woman who had been sitting in her car, in her driveway, watching the marathon.  When she saw the flag coming, she got out, hobbled to the front of her car and clapped ever so softly, yet her patriotism rang out loud and clear.

At times I felt like an Olympian passing groups of college kids.  They'd be lined up with beer in one hand, and an empty hand held out in high anticipation of a high five from the "Flag Girl".  I've never been to the Olympics, but I imagined that this is how it would have felt as one of the athletes.  "U-S-A! U-S-A!" at the top of their lungs.  Flag held high...not feeling any tiredness or pain at the moment, just pure exhilaration!  At the end of the college line, a young man ran alongside me.  He had a beer in one hand and he was holding his pants up with the other.  He said, "That is so cool that you are running with the flag!  Wanna beer? "  I kindly said no thank you.  (keep in mind he is still running beside me) Then he said, "well, I'd better go now cuz my pants are falling down."  I said, "Okay, thanks!"  What more do you say to that? That gave me a chuckle for the next mile for sure!

About 1 mile to go!

Coming into downtown Duluth gave strength to a tired mind.  Every time I raised the flag, the crowd got louder.  That's what I was after.  The pure love for their country.  My husband, friend & uncle made it to downtown to be apart of the cheering crowd.  At mile 24, I was ready to see that finish line.  About 1 mile away, we ran under a bridge which had people on it.  Again, "U-S-A...U-S-A!"  Plus some cow bells, got en grained in my head.  

Finally, I rounded the corner to the finish line.  Ahhhh!  Raising my hands in the air, I was so grateful to have finished!  So grateful to be done!  Making my way through the finish line into the runner's area, many asked, "Did you run the whole way with that?"  "Yep" ☺ "Wow"...   

Finish line in sight

     A man stood next to my husband, asking me questions, like, "How do you feel? Are your legs sore?  Did you carry it the whole way?"  Then he thanked me.  He told us he was a vet and appreciated what I had done.  He then asked to have his picture taken with me.  I was honored and thanked him for serving.   ~    Then a man from Germany, who had run the race, also was curious as to what I had done.  He said, he didn't believe that Americans really knew how good they have it.  He had come here many years ago from Germany with not much money, not much of anything.  Yet, he was able to make something of himself.  Something he could not have done in his country.  He thanked me and went on his way.     ~      My adventure wasn't quite over.  I headed over to the place to pick up our bags.  Apparently, I was shaking so badly, the worker told me to wait there, she was getting a medic.  So, for 20 minutes or more, I was warmed up in the medic tent due to suffering hypothermia.  The nurses there, unfurled the flag, took my picture with my phone, then rolled it up and laid it beside me.  Fitting, right?  I carried it 26 miles, and it lay by my side until I was well enough to return home.  I help my country, and my country will help me... maybe it's a stretch, but I'd do it again in a heartbeat.