(Image Source: The ING New York City Marathon)Last Sunday I went to Central Park to watch the NYC Marathon. I love going to watch it cause I think it is such a beautiful metaphor. Runners set a goal to run this marathon. They train to qualify for it. They train for months beforehand and then they show up the day of and attempt to run it. Some finish and others don't, but they all try. But the thing that really moved me on Sunday was the woman I was standing next to who was screaming her lungs out to cheer on the runners. Every runner that passed by who had a name on his or her shirt she yelled encouragement to as if she knew them. "Let's go Simon! Get moving Chuck. Don't stop now Mary!" I stood alongside her in silence, my eyes welled up with tears and I thought what a beautiful metaphor for life and for the city of New York. We don't know these people who are running, but we cheered them on because maybe in them achieving their goal something inside of us feels like we can meet our goals. I find it annoying when I'm visiting somewhere and people start talking about how New Yorkers aren't nice people. I don't agree with this. And I think the NYC Marathon is a great example of that. I think there is a unity in this city that people do take seriously and wear proudly. I know I was proud on Sunday to be a resident here.
2 comments:
Thanks for your support. If it was not for the fact that New Yorkers watch and cheer, I would not run it every year
As I read this, it as though I could hear the names being cheered on. What a great way to show support for these runners.
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