Amby Burfoot, who won the Boston Marathon in 1968 and has gone on to write several books about running once observed that "every mile out there is a gift."
Today, more than 50,000 runners will take to New York City's streets to complete 26.2 miles. Some will blaze through the five boroughs in less than three hours; others will finish long after night has fallen on Central Park and most others have gone home.
I last completed the NYC Marathon in 2022 - a goal I had set that July after I had prostate cancer surgery. I didn't set any personal records that day; in fact I peed blood and lost a toenail, but my ability to cross the finish line was a huge Fuck You to cancer.
Every mile mattered. Even the ones that hurt. Every mile was an affirmation, an act of defiance, and an achievement.
I'm not racing New York this year, but I'll head out for a shorter run this afternoon, thinking of all those who are running their own races and remembering that every mile is indeed a gift.
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