This post was inspired by an elderly lady I ran into at Trader Joe’s a few weeks ago. She sparked a conversation with me about how lonely she was. Her husband of 50 years had recently pasted away and that he was the love of her life. I said “what an amazing love story”. She grabbed hold of my hand and replied “well it was far from perfect and there were many times I wanted to leave, but we stuck it out, because that’s what you did in our day”. Her eyes welled up, I looked at her and held her frail hands, she said “that’s what made it such an amazing love story… we didn’t give up”. I was so moved. I could not stop thinking about it. Rose Marie this is for you and Stanley and every married couple out there…
Marriage is like a Marathon, you go in thinking it will not be difficult. You start the race happy and waving at the crowd, thinking “if Oprah can do this, so can I” – right.. Oprah’s not married. Anyway, the crowd cheers, cow/bells are ringing, and they throw rice for you as you start your time together. You run or jog blissfully through those first few miles with a smile so big it hurts, thinking “I got this one in the bag,” this is a perfect race, there is nothing about this that is wrong, this will be smooth sailing.
As the miles/years tick by, you settle into a rhythm, still happy and content enjoying the ride. Often times unexpected circumstances come up: heat, cold, hills, wind, stomach distress or chaffing. Then, after many miles of unexpected circumstances, you might say “hmm, this is not so fun”, but you carry on. Those miles keep ticking away and you begin to get tired. Very tired. You might ask yourself many questions like “Why am I doing this?” or say things like “This is not what I signed up for”. You might even say “I can’t finish” or “I’m ready to stop”. In a really painful moment, you might even say “Maybe I picked the wrong marathon?” or “Marathon’s are just NOT for me”.
It is in these lonely and frightening moments you must tell yourself, or have a true friend by your side say, “you can do this” or “just a few steps more, you will get through this rough patch.” You must take one step at a time – as long as you are moving in the right direction. You may need to pause for a moment, but do not quit. Keep going and working on each step trying to make each one count. As you do this, you begin to pick up step, you feel just a little better. Before you know it you have found a decent pace again, you feel good, the crowd cheers for you, so proud that you have made it this far. At this point you have a chance to make it great, but it’s up to you, you have to work for it.
Those last few miles are life altering, the courage you have mustered to get to where you are bring a sense of accomplishment like you have never felt. You start to fall in love all over again and say things like “this is amazing” and “I love the marathon”. You may even start to get emotional at what you have just achieved. You cross the finish line and a feeling of euphoria descends upon you. You have just done something big… really big and there is no greater feeling, it makes the congenial feelings you had at the start seem minuscule in comparison.
So don’t quit, stay strong, get through the pain, it’s not easy, but you did not put in all this hard work for nothing. Stay the course, you deserve your finish line moment.
PS. I am no where near the finish line, I am projecting into the future. Additionally, there are reasons to DNF as well as leave a marriage. These are simply my musings inspired by a random interaction with a stranger.
Other ways Marathons are like people:
1.The hottest marathons are the most difficult. BTW – use protection/sunscreen with these ones
2.Sometimes the biggest most popular alluring marathons are not that fun, everyone loves them for a reason, you will most likely get lost in the crowd.
3.If you prefer not being attached to one marathon, try the exotic foreign ones, that might be fun.
4.Try running a marathon just for fun, no strings attached.
5.Try being loyal to one marathon, that’s fun too.
6.If you’re bored of the same old marathon routine, try dressing up in a costume to spice things up.
7.You are going to get tired in every single marathon, the grass is not greener, just different grass.
8.There will be marathons that look so appealing and you want to do them so bad, but you can’t do every single one.
How else do you think a marathon is like a person?
About Lisa
I love this post
Thank you!
You are hilarious. My emotions were all over the place, from your serious and heart-warming beginning to cracking up at your final 8 points.
Love the analogy- it totally works!
Thank you Laura!
You are too funny !
Oh how I miss you, friend! I love this post – thanks for sharing this beautiful interpertation. It’s not easy, but like you said – It’s TOTALLY worth it! I adore the story from Rose Marie, love is worth fighting for. xoxo
Thank you Melody, I am really missing you as well. If I were still in VA. we would have sat and had this conversation, bet we would have come up with pretty funny “marathons are like people” analogies over lunch. xo
This post had me in tears — sorrow & hysterical laughter!
Thank you Jenn! xoxo
Oh I love this post – for your very description of how marriage really is a marathon and your humor. Love the story of Rose Marie and thank you for sharing it.
Thank you Christine! Loved your latest post on meeting Mercedes!
Great post!!! I should send this to my husband
Thank you Danielle!
Love reading your blog posts, this one is so creative and fun! You are an awesome writer (and mom, wife runner, etc), thanks for sharing!
Thank you so much Sage! How are you? Are you currently training for anything? We are back in SoCal. It’s been tough finding a place to live, but we remain hopeful. Hope you are well! Love to you from the McClellan’s.
I love the comparisons you made! Very true and humorous.
Thank you Lauren!
Love this! On both counts (marriage and marathons) I think people now adays give up too easily as soon as things get tough. I take my wedding vows way more seriously that that! (However like you said there are a select few reasons to DNF!)
Heather, Thank you for your kind words. Marriage can be difficult, and then when you factor in unexpected (or even expected) stressful circumstances it’s tough, but no reason quit (or very few reasons that is) .Thank you so much for stopping by!
Awesome post! Very creative–my favorite, “the grass isn’t greener, just different grass.” So true. in life and in a marathon.
Marathons are roller coasters and so is life/marriage.
Love this! It’s so right. Stay the course, you can do it!
Great post, Lisa! I’ll be sharing this one with lots of married friends…runners and non-runners.
I’ve never thought it that way at all – but you are so right!!!! Marriages are like marathons and vice versa. Love this!
LOVE the analogies hahaaa!!
Loved this post!
hahahaha… loved it.
Don’t really know what else to add…. but I loved the part about costumes. Too funny.
Love this!! So funny and so true!
This is such a great post. I went from nearly crying to laughing at the end. beautifully written. It is so true, as well. I am not married YET but I can definitely see the correlation between a marathon and a marriage.
xoxo
You hit it on the nose. What a perfect analogy.
I never realized how true this is! Thanks for the comic relief at the end. Too funny!
Pure genius! Must share with my runner friends!
Thank you Christy! It would make good conversation on a long run ” how is a marathon like a person”? I think a group of girls could come up with pretty funny analogies.
This was so darn cute! I have definitely uttered the words “marathons are not for me” then went and did 6 more.
I detest big, hot marathons, yet somehow I keep doing them. TWSS!
Marcia, I just spit out my drink, you have me laughing.. I love those big hots ones too.. what is wrong with us? bawhaha
Oh my gosh. Favorite. Post. Ever!!!!
LOVE this post! I’m not married but hit a little rough spot the last few days and this post really helps me. Thanks!
Hope you are getting adjusted to CA life!
You left out “Gays and lesbians can run marathons but their times don’t count”
Jim, good one! They count in my book, in fact it reminds me of the picture of Kathrine Switzer being pulled off the Boston Marathon course back in the 60′s for being a women. I can’t believe our country does not treat all people equal.. It hurts to even write that. Do we live in the dark ages? I celebrate love and equality. The fight for the right for all to marry is like a marathon, not easy but we must not give up!
Maybe weddings are like marathons in that you learn something from each one, however I don’t think I’ll ever try qualifying for Boston, pretty happy with the one I’m running right now:-)
I love it!! Yes, you do learn something from everyone, don’t you? Thank you for your insightful comment. Hope you have a great weekend.
This is AMAZING and so very true!! I also think that marathons prepare you well for marriage — you learn so much about yourself that you are more objective.
Very clever! So true. Honestly, I teared up a bit about the old lady. They’re one of a kind that generation; we’ll never match their endurance through the depression, WWII, oppression and uprising of women, and MUSIC.
loved this post! thank you!
This post is AWESOME!!!
Of course – I’ve run 10 marathons with plans for plenty more…, I’m not so sure what that says about me??!
(Still on my first marathon-marriage though, for the record!!!)
How marathons are also like people might be the funniest list I have read in the longest time
I loved how you used an analogy between marriage and a marathon. I’ve been married 19 years and can completely relate to each of your points. I wish my newly wedded self could have read your post. Thank you so much for the time you took to create this post.
@LisaMcLaen on twitter
Another great one! <3
Loved this!! You pretty much put into words what I have been trying to figure out for a while now! Thank you!
Great post. We all need to slow down and take life in. The good, the bad and the ugly. Life is not a sprint… it is a marathon. (-:
Thank you, Lisa! This is a perfect post 2 months before my wedding! Very informative!
oh I love this! I was nearly in tears at the end thinking of everything my husband and i have been through and how we decided to “stay the course.” It is so worth it!
Haha this was awesome! I am neither married, nor have I run a marathon before. But I’m currently training for my first marathon and I do hope to be married some day, so I guess in a way I’m in training for both
glad to hear that even though it gets rough it will be so worth it. Can’t wait!!
I’m reading this post at 5am after spending 1 1/2 hours digging out my septic tank! Horraay flooding! :-$
Thank u for making me laugh my ass off
P.s. Ryan gosling is dreamy