“Are you mad to run a marathon at your age?”, they asked.
“Not a marathon, a half marathon”, she patiently explained. “And I am walking, not running.”“Same thing! What’s gotten into you in your old age?”
Perhaps she was mad! In her 82 years, she’d played many roles. Daughter. Granddaughter. Sister. Cousin. Niece. Friend. Sister-in-law. Aunt. Wife. Daughter-in-law. Mother. Confidant. Mother-in-law. Grandmother. Great-grandmother. Only one role eluded her- “Me”.
It took her seven hours to finish. The sidewalks were lined with people cheering her. Her great-grandchildren hugged her at the finish line.
Next year, she would attempt the full!
______
Photo by Adam Jones
5 comments:
Is this based on a true story? I hope so!
And how did your marathon go?
What a wonderful, inspiring story!
I love this Natasha! And congratulations for finishing your OWN marathon! You are inspiring!
@ Fiona - finished after the race was over, but FINISHED! Am thrilled.
And the story is really a composite of many stories - of a woman who ran a 7km race just before her 80th birthday, a man who took up distance running after 70, and the many women who never discover their true identity
@ Dipali - thanks
@ Tami - thanks and THANKS!
Congrats on completing the marathon! I am most impressed.
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