Honoring Commitments
By M.J. Clark, M.A., APR

This year, I was unable to participate in our Relay for Life walk in the way I had hoped. I was dealing with a medical situation that would have made it very painful to walk
          
          Char Anderson and M.J. Clark in 2008 Relay

We always tell our clients how important it is to take care of YOU. When we really make an effort to take care of ourselves, we will become the best parent, friend, boss or business partner to the others in our life because we will be calmer, more patient, healthier and more centered when we engage with others. It was very tough for me to follow that advice as it applied to my Relay for Life commitment this year.  Despite the pain I was in, I really wanted to walk. Even though my husband and kids were walking laps in my place, I really wanted to walk. Although it was enough that I showed up at the Relay site to support the ILS team, I really wanted to walk.    (continued)

The Twenty Fourth Mile
By Steven L. Anderson, Ph.D., MBA

 “Joy lies in the fight, in the attempt, in the suffering involved, not in the victory itself.”    Gandhi
 

In April this year I ran the Toledo marathon with my daughter, Julie.  It was a story of the agony and the ecstasy.  Agony because 26.2 miles is a long way for this 52 year old body to run.  Ecstasy because of what I learned and because it strengthened an already close relationship with my daughter.

But what I want to focus on in this article is the twenty-fourth mile of the marathon.  See on the right where a professional photographer snapped my picture?  In it I have a look on my face like, “Someone please shoot me.” (click on it to get a closer look!)  In fact, that’s about how I felt.  Four hours of complete physical exertion left me totally spent.  Just moving my legs brought on stabbing pains all over my body.  At the same time I had so much lactic acid built up in my body that my muscles would barely respond.

It was quite difficult to keep running without falling down.  At the same time every insecurity I can feel is racing through my head.  “I’m a loser.  I am weak.  I am old.  Why in the heck did I sign up for this darn race?  I will never do this again.  Who am I trying to fool?  I am no athlete!”     (continued)