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My mom and I got to meet this guy at the airport. After taking in the Boston Marathon experience for a second year. Seemed poignant that, especially after a year with my company, I left with a deeper appreciate and profound insight for the things some of us take for granted on a daily basis. I recognized him from seeing him in Feneuil Hall.
I immediately congratulated him and was quite surprised when he engaged us in conversation. We can only imagine what his training must of looked like and the fact that he crossed that finish line, no matter the time, deserves to be celebrated. Boston is one of the toughest courses and right between mile 20 and 21 lies heartbreak hill...each runner has to dig a little deeper just before the stretch home. The cheer of crowds often give that final momentum of motivation needed to cross the finish line. From the look on some runners faces, the anguish and agony to finish is very real and that's when the crowd kicks in with their cheers and encouragement. The sheer elation he had and pride in this accomplishment is infectious.
Here's a guy who has obviously overcome some major hurdles! Doesn't mean he won't have more to come. At the same time, he wasn't the first to finish the race. I think the point is that it wasn't about what place he came in at. The point is that he finished the race. In fact, he finished dead last.
At one point in our conversation he turned and looked back, he said "I may have finished last but at least I finished and can tell my kids 'look your dad accomplished something!'"
I couldn't agree more! Boston is the Holy Grail for any runner. Only about 35,000 runners are accepted. Entry is competitive and often times, runners who have met time qualifications don't get in because there were more runners who out paced them to qualify. The fact that he's there is something to be proud of. Whether he was there by a charity spot or via qualification, he was there. He ran Boston and has his medal to prove it!
Folks run Boston for a number of reasons. My brother does as a celebration of life and health. He worked hard to be in a healthy place post college/grad school. He picked up running and discovered he was pretty good and enjoyed it! That's how we ended up in Boston for a second year in a row.
We don't believe in happen stance or coincidence. We believe all things happen for a reason, reasons we may not understand today or may ever understand.
I'm grateful for moments like these. Over the last year, I've learned more about wounds that won't heal. Not figuratively, but actual flesh wounds. I understand the mechanisms that can stall healing and also know there are many product that can promote healing. Healing is most difficult for folks with compromised immune systems and for diabetics.
Moments like these make me proud to work for a company focused on wound care and helping folks heal so they can get back to every day life. Our mantra is to "make better."
It may sound hokey but I think about that in my own work. While I may never directly interest with patients, I do interact with providers and administrators and support folks who interact with providers and administrators on a daily basis. My job is to help arm them with information and data. There are countless studies that have proven the efficacy of our products and I strongly believe in the work my organization does.
What more, I have a powerful and relevant story to share with one of our teams as we present on quality and the impacts. Interactions like this serve as reminders that I'm where I need to be, doing what I've been called to do. Grateful for the experience and humbled by the opportunity.
