tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1838573936273355855.post6719201643305529156..comments2024-03-21T23:36:47.529-04:00Comments on The District Chocoholic: Richmond Marathon: When You Run 26.2 Miles, There's Time to ThinkVictoriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04974235202743391870noreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1838573936273355855.post-22092248328676573962011-11-28T10:14:44.597-05:002011-11-28T10:14:44.597-05:00Just catching up on my reading, and I'm SO gla...Just catching up on my reading, and I'm SO glad I didn't miss this lovely post. We all run marathons for our own reasons, to chase our own inner goals and run from our own inner demons. Thanks for the honest, thoughtful perspective on your own personal motivations—and congratulations on that pretty medal!Amy Reininkhttp://www.amyreinink.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1838573936273355855.post-65667569970399820952011-11-25T18:03:21.878-05:002011-11-25T18:03:21.878-05:00Incredible post (sorry so behind on blog reading)!...Incredible post (sorry so behind on blog reading)! First of all, coming up with a list of things to think about is genius.<br /><br />Second- such an emotional story. I can't imagine how hard it is to lose a friend that way and know that the person was hurting so much. It is also incredible to see how these painful memories can surprise us and come back out of nowhere.Lauren at Keep It Sweethttp://keepitsweetblog.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1838573936273355855.post-44844318566494996992011-11-22T15:39:19.898-05:002011-11-22T15:39:19.898-05:00first since i was reading your other posts, you ha...first since i was reading your other posts, you have every right to talk about the marathon as long as you want :) congrats on doing it and i love the emotion you brought to it with the memory, truly these races mean a lot anyways but that made it even more personal and special for youRunToTheFinishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13995696358152941044noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1838573936273355855.post-61256356902782120172011-11-22T10:48:15.796-05:002011-11-22T10:48:15.796-05:00congrats on the marathon!! it's crazy how emo...congrats on the marathon!! it's crazy how emotional we can be and how much we process when we're out there for awhile. very touching, though, and hope you are both finding your peaceAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13898098819208716948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1838573936273355855.post-220596293916171992011-11-19T04:10:48.629-05:002011-11-19T04:10:48.629-05:00One of the (many) reasons I'm grateful for the...One of the (many) reasons I'm grateful for the fact that Australia tends to treat religion as a more personal thing, rather than a public and 'this is the majority's opinion and you're in the wrong/minority if you don't believe" way is that, thankfully, I've never really heard people talk of suicide as a sin. My mother's sister committed suicide as a baby, and I knew very early on in my life that I could never, ever do the same, because I couldn't do it to mum. And yet there have been times when I can't bear the thought of going on, still. I think the terrible thing is that, for some people, they can't hold on to that glimmer of certainty that living won't feel this awful forever.<br /><br />That's why I support, so completely, your words at the end about hanging on just a little bit longer. Everything can change in a heartbeat.<br /><br />Thank you, Victoria. Love.Hannahhttp://wayfaringchocolate.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1838573936273355855.post-37095202897361371902011-11-18T18:21:11.306-05:002011-11-18T18:21:11.306-05:00Dearest Tori,
I am also very touched by your sweet...Dearest Tori,<br />I am also very touched by your sweet thoughts. Congratulations on your achievement. Not being a running enthusiast, Melissa would so agree that connecting during the last 2/10th of a mile was the best choice - more of the glory and less of the grind (not to mention fun with fractions)! I am so glad to see you are doing so well. We used to banter about whether you'd end up in brain surgery or rocket science! Thanks so much.<br />Robin SeymourAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1838573936273355855.post-26040758021211236842011-11-17T17:31:11.969-05:002011-11-17T17:31:11.969-05:00I'm sorry to hear about your friend Melissa. ...I'm sorry to hear about your friend Melissa. I hope that she has found peace.<br /><br />Congratulations on your marathon!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1838573936273355855.post-43427980242871876442011-11-17T15:23:49.811-05:002011-11-17T15:23:49.811-05:00First: Thank you for your thoughts and words abou...First: Thank you for your thoughts and words about your friend Melissa. Very touching.<br /><br />Second: I love that you dedicated miles to family and friends.. great way to distract yourself and get through your race. Congrats!Julie @SavvyEatshttp://www.savvyeat.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1838573936273355855.post-87681166956686956282011-11-17T11:35:16.396-05:002011-11-17T11:35:16.396-05:00I too remember the great times with melissa on swi...I too remember the great times with melissa on swim team enduring the pain that weitzer would hand us with each workout. She was truly beautiful inside and out and I think your words couldn't have been more perfect. Congratulations on the marathon and the tribute to a life cut tragically short.Amynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1838573936273355855.post-28817350193216587742011-11-17T10:54:53.003-05:002011-11-17T10:54:53.003-05:00I think the 10-11 minute mile past is just so darn...I think the 10-11 minute mile past is just so darn comfy. However, I highly doubt I'd be able to have a faster finishing 10k than starting - excellent work, dawg!<br /><br />I think this post showcases your fantastic narrative style so well, and I believe it's my favorite thing of yours that I've read. It's so meaningful, and I very much admire what you chose to share with us. Your friend would have been so proud of you:)Emmahttp://ofagatesandmadeleines.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1838573936273355855.post-11638607190001272062011-11-17T10:50:29.640-05:002011-11-17T10:50:29.640-05:00Congrats on your marathon!
Thanks for sharing t...Congrats on your marathon! <br /><br />Thanks for sharing the story about your friend. I had a uncle who I was really close to take his own life. So this is an issue near and dear to my heart.Suzanne C.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1838573936273355855.post-68388039899500424992011-11-17T10:21:18.745-05:002011-11-17T10:21:18.745-05:00Wow, what a beautifully emotional way to run a rac...Wow, what a beautifully emotional way to run a race. I'm proud of you for crossing that finish line and I know your friend Melissa is as well. You had me tearing up just read it, no wonder you burst into tears at the end. Way to go Victoria.Meghannhttp://mealsandmiles.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1838573936273355855.post-79237200129716599072011-11-17T10:11:32.388-05:002011-11-17T10:11:32.388-05:00First of all, CONGRATS on finishing the marathon, ...First of all, CONGRATS on finishing the marathon, that itself is an amazing feat. Your idea of designating a mile to someone is great, and I think I may have to steal that idea when I run my first marathon (which hopefully will be next year). <br /><br />Your words about your friend Melissa were incredibly moving. I'm very sorry to hear about her, but your message makes so much sense. Giving oneself that extra 5 minutes or 5 hours or just 1 more day makes the hardships in life that much more bearable, and I hope your readers are able to remember that when they're going through tough times.Lisanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1838573936273355855.post-36493943650732178812011-11-17T10:03:46.749-05:002011-11-17T10:03:46.749-05:00This is beautiful. I lost a childhood friend to su...This is beautiful. I lost a childhood friend to suicide too, and it's something I think I'll never get completely over, because I'll never completely understand it. So your post, which was already touching, really hit me in a powerful way. Congratulations on all your hard work and finishing the big one in such a meaningful way.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1838573936273355855.post-26701235677331938962011-11-17T09:58:29.174-05:002011-11-17T09:58:29.174-05:00Not so much with the chocolate, but still very swe...Not so much with the chocolate, but still very sweet.Coffee Lovershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15156187861560961200noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1838573936273355855.post-49657158280150281332011-11-17T09:43:30.630-05:002011-11-17T09:43:30.630-05:00Very moving post - I teared up sitting at my desk....Very moving post - I teared up sitting at my desk. I always love to know where people find their motivation for their races. We all do it for different reasons, and everyone has a story. Thanks for sharing - and congratulations on a great race!Emily P (@trirunner302)https://www.blogger.com/profile/09628589384608827656noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1838573936273355855.post-27958551725579496732011-11-17T09:04:50.480-05:002011-11-17T09:04:50.480-05:00Most everything I read and hear about suicide is a...Most everything I read and hear about suicide is about how "selfish" that person was. But I agree with you-- if someone is in that much pain, then they are just not able to see beyond it. Nothing can break through that darkness and escape seems to be the only option. I'm really sorry about your loss and this marathon seems to have been a real journey for you, both emotionally and physically.Elizabethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06265175590096078175noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1838573936273355855.post-8579524133257230292011-11-16T22:47:19.389-05:002011-11-16T22:47:19.389-05:00I was hoping to hear that this really great collea...I was hoping to hear that this really great colleague, Brad, picked mile 26 and you spent a mile thinking about how you had to finish and finish well or Brad would give you a hard time. Or something like that.<br /><br />Sorry to hear about Melissa, thanks for telling us the story.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1838573936273355855.post-35060067130393555462011-11-16T22:32:44.246-05:002011-11-16T22:32:44.246-05:00Beautiful dedication. Congrats on finishing! Hope ...Beautiful dedication. Congrats on finishing! Hope you celebrated with chocolate....Rachelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09336176944126890487noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1838573936273355855.post-39357356554838613402011-11-16T22:11:59.076-05:002011-11-16T22:11:59.076-05:00what a wonderful way to honor your friend. Congrat...what a wonderful way to honor your friend. Congrats on your first marathon and thank you for such a beautiful race recap.Laurenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00239321052632091395noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1838573936273355855.post-12146328738956749852011-11-16T22:10:03.867-05:002011-11-16T22:10:03.867-05:00Thank you Victoria for sharing this.Thank you Victoria for sharing this.Catherine Jautz Baileynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1838573936273355855.post-32988780969536433592011-11-16T21:56:38.853-05:002011-11-16T21:56:38.853-05:00I love the idea of dedicating a mile to important ...I love the idea of dedicating a mile to important people in your life. So your first marathon was meaningful in many many ways. Thanks for sharing, and congratulations.Emilyhttp://speedlaces.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1838573936273355855.post-13476409132934808472011-11-16T21:10:46.683-05:002011-11-16T21:10:46.683-05:00Wow, I really have no words, but what a touching s...Wow, I really have no words, but what a touching story. Ending your marathon honoring your friend sounds like the perfect way to remember her.<br /><br />On a lighter note (sorry if it's not appropriate to switch gears like that?) I have also done the mile dedication thing and I think it's a perfect way to get through a marathon. My grandmother recently suffered a terrible fall which broke her hip, and as a result she has had to leave her entire life behind to enter a nursing home, but rarely complains and always makes the best of things, so I always think of her when things get rough. That's basically a total tangent but sort of related. Also, I'd like to point out that this post is wonderfully written, which I have found is rare for people who are gifted in math.Alyssahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02517428815573698474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1838573936273355855.post-7729793887967840332011-11-16T21:01:34.434-05:002011-11-16T21:01:34.434-05:00*applause**applause*AKA Darkwave, AKA Anarcha, AKA Cris.https://www.blogger.com/profile/09873516028463495708noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1838573936273355855.post-7150925630101269612011-11-16T19:22:49.449-05:002011-11-16T19:22:49.449-05:00Wow. I am speechless, and I usually have so much t...Wow. I am speechless, and I usually have so much to say. But I will say this, I am so glad I read this, I don't always understand why people take their lives and I never will because it is not my life.Sanahttp://www.supersana.comnoreply@blogger.com