hen you looked in his eyes. He did it. All the nervousness and anticipation was now gone. It was replaced with pain and pride. On the ride home, he thanked me again and again for my support along the way. I kept shaking my head and thanking him. I felt I had gained even more than he had that day. I learned a lot about life watching him run that marathon.

What struck me the hardest was the dedication, determination, and energy it took each of those runners to meet their goal. It means, anything in this life that is worth anything requires effort. We cannot accomplish great things while sitting on our couches. We cannot feel those feelings of pride and achievement by wishing it so. We must be willing to enter the race and work hard for it.

And this include

The starting shot was heard, followed by a loud cheer and planes flying over head. Slowly but surely, the pack crossed the starting line and began their journey down the 26.2 mile course. I stood there on the sidelines and was surprised to find my eyes welling up with tears. The emotions were strong. I felt pride and worry as my husband, Chris, crossed the start line and began this journey that he had been anticipating for months.

I headed back to the car, thankful to get out of the cold and even more thankful that I was not running 26 miles today. I grabbed my map of the course and headed down the road to a point where we could cheer Chris on. We arrived approximately 6 miles down the road by one of the water stations. It was the turn around point for those running the half marathon. Runners were streaming by. Most were still smiling and no one looked cold anymore.

It was interesting to see who had come out to dare this feat. There were some who looked at the peak condition of their life. Some were older yet still puffing along and putting one foot in front of the other. Some ran together with a friend and a few spouses jogged along side by side. As people made the turn around, I heard them cheering each other on. Soon, my husband jogged by. I whooped, cheered and and took pictures. He smiled confidently and kept running.

After taking care of a few errands, I met up with my husband again at the 18 mile mark. All the runners looked different now. Each now shuffled along. Some walked. The smiles were gone, and in each eye was a dull determination to keep going.

I showed the same excitement this time when Chris shuffled by. I was amazed to see him still running, albeit considerably slower. He gave me a weary smile and I promised to meet him down the road a bit. I did this 2 more times. Each time, all the runners looked more and more tired, but most were still running, and the determined look was still the same. I came to realize it was sheer will that was enabling them to put one foot in front of the other.

As I found a spot at the finish line, I found tears in my eyes again. Each runner looked just as tired as the last time I saw them, but many smiles had reappeared as they gave all they had and crossed the finish line. Somehow, I found myself wishing to be there with them. I realized that only those who paid the price of running those 26.2 miles could revel in the victory and accomplishment of crossing the finish line.

I saw a few couples cross the finish line together. Each would grasp hands as they neared it and cross hand in hand. I envied them and wished I was out there with Chris. I had to laugh at myself. Earlier, I was glad not to be one of them, and now, I actually yearned to join in their amazing accomplishment. Soon, I saw my husband’s form come over the last hill. The pride in my heart was indescribable. I screamed and cheered at the top of my lungs until he was across the finish line.

I met him on the other side- medal dangling around his neck. He looked exhausted but there was a sense of pride when you looked in his eyes. He did it. All the nervousness and anticipation was now gone. It was replaced with pain and pride. On the ride home, he thanked me again and again for my support along the way. I kept shaking my head and thanking him. I felt I had gained even more than he had that day. I learned a lot about life watching him run that marathon.

What struck me the hardest was the dedication, determination, and energy it took each of those runners to meet their goal. It means, anything in this life that is worth anything requires effort. We cannot accomplish great things while sitting on our couches. We cannot feel those feelings of pride and achievement by wishing it so. We must be willing to enter the race and work hard for it.

And this includes

unning the half marathon. Runners were streaming by. Most were still smiling and no one looked cold anymore.

It was interesting to see who had come out to dare this feat. There were some who looked at the peak condition of their life. Some were older yet still puffing along and putting one foot in front of the other. Some ran together with a friend and a few spouses jogged along side by side. As people made the turn around, I heard them cheering each other on. Soon, my husband jogged by. I whooped, cheered and and took pictures. He smiled confidently and kept running.

After taking care of a few errands, I met up with my husband again at the 18 mile mark. All the runners looked different now. Each now shuffled along. Some walked. The smiles were gone, and in each eye was a dull determination to keep going.

I showed the same excitement this time when Chris shuffled by. I was amazed to see him still running, albeit considerably slower. He gave me a weary smile and I promised to meet him down the road a bit. I did this 2 more times. Each time, all the runners looked more and more tired, but most were still running, and the determined look was still the same. I came to realize it was sheer will that was enabling them to put one foot in front of the other.

As I found a spot at the finish line, I found tears in my eyes again. Each runner looked just as tired as the last time I saw them, but many smiles had reappeared as they gave all they had and crossed the finish line. Somehow, I found myself wishing to be there with them. I realized that only those who paid the price of running those 26.2 miles could revel in the victory and accomplishment of crossing the finish line.

I saw a few couples cross the finish line together. Each would grasp hands as they neared it and cross hand in hand. I envied them and wished I was out there with Chris. I had to laugh at myself. Earlier, I was glad not to be one of them, and now, I actually yearned to join in their amazing accomplishment. Soon, I saw my husband’s form come over the last hill. The pride in my heart was indescribable. I screamed and cheered at the top of my lungs until he was across the finish line.

I met him on the other side- medal dangling around his neck. He looked exhausted but there was a sense of pride when you looked in his eyes. He did it. All the nervousness and anticipation was now gone. It was replaced with pain and pride. On the ride home, he thanked me again and again for my support along the way. I kept shaking my head and thanking him. I felt I had gained even more than he had that day. I learned a lot about life watching him run that marathon.

What struck me the hardest was the dedication, determination, and energy it took each of those runners to meet their goal. It means, anything in this life that is worth anything requires effort. We cannot accomplish great things while sitting on our couches. We cannot feel those feelings of pride and achievement by wishing it so. We must be willing to enter the race and work hard for it.

And this include

d in each eye was a dull determination to keep going.

I showed the same excitement this time when Chris shuffled by. I was amazed to see him still running, albeit considerably slower. He gave me a weary smile and I promised to meet him down the road a bit. I did this 2 more times. Each time, all the runners looked more and more tired, but most were still running, and the determined look was still the same. I came to realize it was sheer will that was enabling them to put one foot in front of the other.

As I found a spot at the finish line, I found tears in my eyes again. Each runner looked just as tired as the last time I saw them, but many smiles had reappeared as they gave all they had and crossed the finish line. Somehow, I found myself wishing to be there with them. I realized that only those who paid the price of running those 26.2 miles could revel in the victory and accomplishment of crossing the finish line.

I saw a few couples cross the finish line together. Each would grasp hands as they neared it and cross hand in hand. I envied them and wished I was out there with Chris. I had to laugh at myself. Earlier, I was glad not to be one of them, and now, I actually yearned to join in their amazing accomplishment. Soon, I saw my husband’s form come over the last hill. The pride in my heart was indescribable. I screamed and cheered at the top of my lungs until he was across the finish line.

I met him on the other side- medal dangling around his neck. He looked exhausted but there was a sense of pride when you looked in his eyes. He did it. All the nervousness and anticipation was now gone. It was replaced with pain and pride. On the ride home, he thanked me again and again for my support along the way. I kept shaking my head and thanking him. I felt I had gained even more than he had that day. I learned a lot about life watching him run that marathon.

What struck me the hardest was the dedication, determination, and energy it took each of those runners to meet their goal. It means, anything in this life that is worth anything requires effort. We cannot accomplish great things while sitting on our couches. We cannot feel those feelings of pride and achievement by wishing it so. We must be willing to enter the race and work hard for it.

And this include

here with them. I realized that only those who paid the price of running those 26.2 miles could revel in the victory and accomplishment of crossing the finish line.

I saw a few couples cross the finish line together. Each would grasp hands as they neared it and cross hand in hand. I envied them and wished I was out there with Chris. I had to laugh at myself. Earlier, I was glad not to be one of them, and now, I actually yearned to join in their amazing accomplishment. Soon, I saw my husband’s form come over the last hill. The pride in my heart was indescribable. I screamed and cheered at the top of my lungs until he was across the finish line.

I met him on the other side- medal dangling around his neck. He looked exhausted but there was a sense of pride when you looked in his eyes. He did it. All the nervousness and anticipation was now gone. It was replaced with pain and pride. On the ride home, he thanked me again and again for my support along the way. I kept shaking my head and thanking him. I felt I had gained even more than he had that day. I learned a lot about life watching him run that marathon.

What struck me the hardest was the dedication, determination, and energy it took each of those runners to meet their goal. It means, anything in this life that is worth anything requires effort. We cannot accomplish great things while sitting on our couches. We cannot feel those feelings of pride and achievement by wishing it so. We must be willing to enter the race and work hard for it.

And this include

hen you looked in his eyes. He did it. All the nervousness and anticipation was now gone. It was replaced with pain and pride. On the ride home, he thanked me again and again for my support along the way. I kept shaking my head and thanking him. I felt I had gained even more than he had that day. I learned a lot about life watching him run that marathon.

What struck me the hardest was the dedication, determination, and energy it took each of those runners to meet their goal. It means, anything in this life that is worth anything requires effort. We cannot accomplish great things while sitting on our couches. We cannot feel those feelings of pride and achievement by wishing it so. We must be willing to enter the race and work hard for it.

And this includes our relationships with our spouse. Many of us assume that our marriage will be awesome by wishing it so. Nothing is farther from the truth. A good marriage is like a marathon. You must prepare for it before you enter into it. And while running that race, there will be times where you will be shuffling along, tired and miserable. Yet, you are determined to endure it because you know that good times are right around the next bend. In marriage, you both must be each others inspiration, and each other’s cheerleader. If you do, you will revel in your successes and good times together. You will love your spouse all the more because you know how much effort you both routinely make to keep it a happy one.

I challenge you today to join the race with your spouse and know the triumph of a happy relationship that you both worked hard to create and nurture. It isn’t easy, but nothing valuable in this life is.