“The love of family and the admiration of friends is much more important than wealth and privilege.” – Charles Kuralt
Like many things in life, running is not something you can do without a lot of support. I was going to title this entry “The Spectators”, but as I was outlining my thoughts on it, I realized that was too narrow of a label. The individuals in my life who come out to watch me run do so much more than merely spectate. They are my support system. They are who I call upon to talk about the races I sign up for, the ones I discuss my workouts with, and sometimes the ones who I call in tears when I get injured. They are the ones with whom I celebrate the successes and the ones I rely upon for comfort after the failures.
My first, sometimes my only, and definitely my most devoted supporters are my parents, Lyle and Eileen Wandrey. I owe them so much. They have supported me wholeheartedly since I first started running. I’m not sure they ever missed a single meet, cross country or track, all throughout my high school career. They have endured some of Minnesota’s most miserable weather to watch their daughter run. Whether it was snow, wind, or rain, they were always there. And trust me, in the early days, they sometimes had to wait quite awhile for me to finish! They even signed up to officiate at track meets, which is not easy work. And after every race, they were there to tell me good job. No matter how I finished and no matter how upset I might have been with myself, my parents congratulated me on running and finishing the race. I cannot recall a time when they ever uttered a single negative word.
When I was running for St. Olaf, they followed the team everywhere they could to watch us compete. All my teammates knew and loved Lyle and Eileen! I think the only times they ever missed a competition was if the Ole men and women were running at separate meets. In those instances, they had to alternate between watching Bryce and I. Once again, I was so thankful for their continued support. Their presence made me want to try harder.
As I entered the road racing world, my parents continued to make every effort to support me in person. For those few events they couldn’t be at, they gave me strict instructions to get in touch with them shortly after finishing. They always wanted to know, first and foremost, that I was okay. Once that was established, I could provide them with my race summary and analysis!
Then there’s my husband, Dan. I’m so blessed to have him in my life for so many reasons. And, I’m so grateful that he’s embraced my running, and even become a runner himself! I recall training for my first marathon while living in Rochester and doing a long run on the Douglas Trail. I was heading towards home and I noticed this guy on a bicycle heading towards me. As he got closer, I noticed that it was Dan who had thoughtfully come to check on me and keep me company for the remaining miles. It wasn’t long after that when he decided to just start running races with me. I was so thrilled that we had found something we could do together (since tennis didn’t really work out). As I’ve trained for my last couple of marathons, I have relied heavily upon Dan to get me through the miles. On Saturday mornings, I would start out my long run alone and then meet Dan at a certain time. He’d show up with hydration and then run the rest of the way with me. It was such a mental boost to break up those long runs into two manageable distances. Having Dan by my side made it more enjoyable, too. He’s my training partner, my coach, my cheerleader, my rock.
Jim and Marianne Hedin, my father and mother-in law, are two more loyal supporters who I value immensely. As previously mentioned in another post, Grandma’s marathon weekend is a big deal in Duluth and for the Hedin clan. Between preparing for our arrival on Friday night and making it down to the lake to watch the 5K, they prepare a huge pasta meal for everyone. Then, at the crack of dawn on Saturday morning, they wake up with the runners and transport us to the starting line. They, too, have withstood some pretty awful weather to watch us run. Running in inclement weather is one thing. Spectating is a whole other thing! But it doesn’t matter; they are always there. And then after the race, it’s back to Hotel Hedin for a big bash to celebrate! Jim and Marianne have also traveled down for the Twin Cities marathon. They have ever so kindly endured the long wait between the 10 mile and marathon finishes to be there for me. Last year, the TC marathon did not go well for me. I am confident I would have dropped out of that race had I not known that Jim, Marianne, Dan, and my parents were at the finish line waiting for me. Their travel to St. Paul and their wait at the finish was not to be for nothing.
And then there’s this: Two years ago, my parents drove from Elgin, MN to Boston, MA to watch me run in the Boston Marathon, the highlight of my running career to this day. Dan, Jim, and Marianne flew with me. Due to the heightened security (I ran the year after the marathon bombings), they stood in the same spot for 5 hours. To get a spot along the finish line, they needed to get there early. And due to the staggered start, I began almost an hour after the first wave. One spot. Five hours. If that’s not dedication and love, then I don’t know what is. Having those 5 people with me on that day is something I will cherish forever. It was one of the most wonderful experiences of my life, and having them there to share it with me made it even more priceless.
I not sure where my running career would be, or if it would even exist, without these individuals. They have all played a valuable role in making me who I am. Their dedication, compassion, sincerity, and love brings a tear to my eye and puts a spring in my step.
Mom, Dad, Dan, Jim, and Marianne- I love you! And Thank You from the bottom of my heart!
