This last week was a very humbling week for me. I watched some amazing people do some really amazing things. I was very humbled by everyone’s thoughts, prayers, well wishes, and dedications. I touched on this topic in another blog post in June called Personally Strong. I just need you all to know that everything you think I’m giving to you and the inspiration you receive from me is received here over 100 fold. I would not be able to do this if I didn’t have such great people at home supporting me! I do for you, you do for me, and we are simply doing for each other. It is beautiful!
First of all it is October, another month has started which means I am one month closer to coming home. I still haven’t started counting anything, either up or down, but every once and awhile I acknowledge time is passing and eventually I will be able to come home. Timothy turned 5 on the 6th. Thank you to everyone who came and made his bowling birthday really special. I know he had a great time! You gave him something I couldn’t!
On October 8th was the 40th running of the Chicago Marathon. I ran last year and ran my best marathon in over 10 years. For me that marathon meant a lot. It was a comeback and a turning point for me. I had been struggling with a torn calf muscle and for 6 years I was running on and off and always in pain. I even went into Brett Farve retirement a few times (you know the kind you come back from). I missed just being able to run. The winter of 2015 I was told by two different orthopedic physicians and three physical therapist I would never run again, at least not pain-free. I was ready to give up. I was tired of limping through all my runs or just walking home. I would still race and count down the miles until my calf would seize. I would end up limping to the finish. I did just that in the Seattle Rock and Roll marathon in 2014, I limped through 17 miles and I was just tired of it every race. I wanted my running legs back.
Through the Life Fitness running club I met Miki Tosic who said please give one more physical therapist a chance. I was willing to do anything. I called Robin from Grayslake Rehabilitation and she was able to give me back something I had lost for over 6 years. I can’t thank her enough for working her magic on me when many others had given up. She gave me back something I love and there is no way to thank someone enough for giving me this gift. Robin is a miracle worker, I will NEVER see another physical therapist. If it wasn’t for her expertise and amazing ability I would be telling a very different story today!
In the spring of 2016, after I got my running legs back, Miki mentioned his wife Jenny Spangler coached track workouts twice a week. The Wednesday workouts happened to be less than a mile from my house. I decided, why not give it a try. I had not stepped on the track since high school cross-country in 2000, and it felt like it was time to return. I was registered for the Chicago marathon and the track workouts started in April and ran until the marathon in October. I ended up enjoying every Wednesday on the track. Not only did I get faster, I learned so much about running. I’ve been running and racing since I was 12 years old, and I learned more that summer about getting faster and training smarter than I had since high school. I learned what I am capable of. My group on the track pushed me every week to run a little harder and each time I got a little faster. I gained confidence again in my ability to run. Remember I had not run pain-free in over 6 years. I stopped being scared to run, and most importantly I stopped being scared to race. Miki and Jenny changed that for me. When I told Miki I was leaving for Afghanistan, he was genuinely touched. Not only that, but Jenny helped me prepare for a marathon this last spring (I wanted to get one in before I left). That marathon wasn’t my best and the course surprised me some (trails), but she was there for me. I returned to the track for a month before I left in June and she welcomed me. Their daughter Kelly made me a beautiful bracelet and they honored me with a Jenny Spangler running shirt. Jenny continues to send workouts and coach me throughout my time away. Every week here I look forward to my Wednesday “treadmill track workouts.” I can’t wait to be back with them again. I do encourage you to check out what Jenny does, especially if you live near me. She also does winter programs and she works with people of all ages and abilities. As long as my legs let me, I’ll be running with her group!
Through Robin’s therapy and Jenny’s workouts, I ran my fastest marathon, PAIN FREE, in over 10 years. To top it all off I finally caught Miki in the last few 100 meters of the race on Roosevelt hill and we were able to finish together. The moment I finished the Chicago Marathon in 2016 was one of my highest highs ever as a racer and I’ve won cross-country races, but there is something magical about coming back and being surrounded by such amazing people that made this extra special. I had hardly crossed the finish line when I had texts and phone calls from TJ, my Dad, Sister, and Vickie Walker congratulating me. I had no idea, but they were all tracking me to the finish. My boss Mike Grigsby was there as well running his first marathon. He rocked it that day. I’m hoping to talk him into another someday. He even put up with me and my chatting for a 20 mile training run. All of these people were there for me and watched me do something a year earlier I never could have done.
Last summer as I ran my track workouts I met some really amazing athletes who pushed me to my limits and made me run much harder than I thought I could. I made friends through a shared passion and some pain. Jeff Klein is one of those amazing athletes. He runs the Chicago marathon every year. He ran last year, and we even saw each other at the start and were able to give each other a high-five. We keep in touch while I’m over here and are sharing training highs and lows. Jeff ran the marathon again this year and did an awesome job! He dedicated the race to me, and I get teary every time I think about it. (Like right now as I write this.) He told me I carried him those last few miles. The thing is he has no idea what is means to me to know he’s thinking of me. He has no idea what that does for me. Knowing there are people at home waiting for me and pulling for me gets me through each day. I am doing this for you! You are doing this for me! I watched Jeff finish and was cheering for him the entire way!
Another friend of mine, Liz Calomino, ran her second marathon in Chicago. Her last message to me before she started was, thank you for wishing her luck and she said my strength will be motivation when needed. Again she has no idea how motivating it is for me to have people at home who think I’m that strong. Knowing that makes it a lot easier to be strong. She ran an amazing race and enjoyed every minute. Not only did she have a great time, but she finished this race less than a year after having her daughter. Now I’m hoping to convince her to do the triathlon with us next summer!
I do for you, you do for me, and we are simply doing for each other. It is beautiful! I can’t say enough that for every time you use me for motivation and insperation I’m also using your energy! You give me the energy to keep going! The energy that carries me through each day. You are an insperation and are pushing yourselves to greatness. I mean this with every ounce of my being. I am truly humbled and honored to have all of you in my life. Continue to bring greatness to everyone around you! What a sweet moment it will be when we will all be together again. Until then I know you all are doing for me, so I can do for you, and we are there for each other!
Darchelle's Vacation with Uncle Sam 