Hello, and welcome to another week at Humbly Courageous. I am glad you stopped by!
Be flexible. A phrase I would silently repeat hundreds of times as we headed overseas to Berlin, Germany. This is where my husband and I would run our first overseas marathon as a duo bike team. One of only five or less duo teams out of the 58,000 or so of our closest friends also running. Speaking of friends, traveling with us to help us were our friends Andy and Michelle. Andy, also was running the marathon, and we needed extra hands to help with traveling with the duo bike, plus a plethora of other things we need assistance with. I also had my wheelchair to travel with. They were our travel angels. Anticipating every need we had, even before we spoke it.
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| Our travel angels |
Not only was this our first overseas marathon, but it was my first time traveling overseas. There was a lot of anxiety for me heading into this trip. Saying “yes” to my husband when he asked me if I wanted to complete our fifth marathon together, our fourth world marathon majors, meant there would be a lot of trial and error. Things would not be easy for either of us.
I will spare you all the travel details and what it takes to get our giant bike, wheels, all of us and our luggage to Germany.The good news is, aside from a man who decided to recline in my lap the entire 8-hour flight there, things went exceptionally smoothly. We could not have asked for anything more. My wheelchair also survived all the flights, mostly unscathed. A big win!
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| Boarding our long flight to Berlin |
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| Designated accessible spot to wait for luggage 👍🏻 |
If you have ever traveled somewhere where your primary language is not their primary language, you know, you need a lot of patience. Most importantly, you must be flexible! Something we had to remind ourselves of as we headed to the expo the day after we arrived to pick up our race bibs. Let’s just say, we may have gotten a little lost on their amazing public transportation, which was free to use for those running the marathon. While it was somewhat accessible, I certainly could not have navigated any of the public transportation without help.
I told my husband, that Berlin was not a place where I could live independently as a disabled person. There are too many curbs cutouts that are not smooth. Most have a little lip you must pop up over. Not ideal. Also, I have never appreciated smooth sidewalks more than I have after that trip. It was a bumpy few days.
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| This little curb makes things difficult in a wheelchair |
We knew going into marathon morning, that this time, it would be different. As much as we told them we wished it weren’t the case, the race organizers in Berlin did not have a separate start for the duo bikes from the masses of marathoners. Something they say they are working to change, and let me tell you, we are going to help push for this change for future duo bikers in Berlin. In all the other marathons we have run, they have started the duo bikes directly after the hand cyclists near the beginning. Doing anything else, is downright dangerous for us and the other runners. So, there we were, in corral C, among the masses. My stomach was in knots. My worst fear was that we would hit a runner with the front wheel of the bike. It would be VERY easy to do with that many runners. Instead of starting us in a safer spot up front, we were required to take out a 2-million-dollar insurance policy in the unfortunate event that we would hit someone.
You can imagine that was at the forefront of our minds as we started out. We had done our best to get to the front of our corral, placing ourselves where surely not even the tiniest running body could squeak in between our bike and the barrier separating the corrals. Oh, how we underestimated just how many bodies would somehow, strategically place themselves around us, to where all I could see were the behinds of the other runners. Let's just say, I had a unique perspective. One I had never experienced. Be flexible I thought, silently cursing my keen sense of smell.
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| My view at the start |
As soon as we started, it was clear, this would not be a race of enjoyment for either of us. This would be a race that would require laser focus from both of us just to stay safe and keep the other runners from harm. It dawned on me that all those years of “backseat driving” were in fact going to be extremely useful during the next few hours. “Slow down,” “too close, too close,” “Jamie, Jamie, JAMIE!” among my most used phrases that day. Luckily, he appreciated the “backseat driving” more on the racecourse than he does on the highway. We settled in for what would be a mentally taxing few hours.
This marathon was different in so many ways for us. Different country, larger in size than any other (fun fact, we were part of setting a new world record with a record number 54,280 crossing the finish line that day!) While that may be a cool thing to have been a part of, for a duo bike team, it caused many challenges.
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| Along the course |
If you are not familiar with a marathon course, they have water stations along the way for those who do not run with their own water supply. My husband always has his own that I refill along the way, so we do not stop for water. We try to stay right down the middle of the water stations, which are on both sides of the road. It can be a very chaotic part of the course. Normally, the cups are paper, so when they are thrown after someone takes a quick drink, it does not hurt too bad if one slaps you in the face. In Berlin, the cups were a hard plastic. So, each time we passed through, I would take cover. That was a crazy experience in itself! I am pleased to say, we made it through the water stations injury free.
Part of what I enjoy during the marathon is documenting and sharing the experience from my unique point of view. I often “go live” on social media because I know others enjoy seeing us in action along the course. This time, I just did not have much opportunity to document the experience in the same way. I was too busy ensuring that others, as well as my husband and I, stayed accident free.
There was never a time of open road where we felt we could relax during our 3 hours and 24 minutes along the course. There were people dodging in, out and around the entire time. There were several near misses as people thought they could hop over the front wheel of the bike as we were moving. I would not recommend.
Another thing I enjoy, is interacting with the crowds during the marathons. People get very enthusiastic when we come by in the bike. If I raise my arm and ring my cowbell in the crowds, they erupt in loud cheering and screaming. It sometimes gets a bit overwhelming for my husband as he is running. While it is awesome to hear and feel the support, ironically it can have the opposite effect on him. It gets VERY loud. The crowds for this marathon were nothing in comparison to New York, Chicago, and Boston. Those are hard to beat.
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| 50th year for The Berlin Marathon |
As we saw the Brandenburg Gate in our sights, we knew we had gotten close to the end. I felt a huge sense of relief as we finally crossed the finish line. My husband and I just embraced one another and cried for a moment. All our months of training had paid off. We completed our 5th marathon together as a team. Team Humbly Courageous.
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| The Brandenburg Gate near the finish |
Many would see us and think that my husband is just a pusher, doing all the hard physical work. Obviously, he is, but he would never want someone to see us that way. We have been a team from the beginning, and this passion of ours is no different. We support each other, encourage one another and step outside our comfort zones together. It is not easy to roll by in that giant bike with all eyes on you. We get all kinds of looks and comments. I doubt there is one we have not heard. Mostly, it is admiration, and what we hope most of all…is that it raises awareness for Muscular Dystrophy and serves as a symbol of hope for others. Our favorite thing is when we pass by a spectator in a wheelchair and their face just lights up, as if to say, “hey, maybe I could do that too!”
While I may not be able to run on my own two feet, it is our humble courage that provides me with the closest I will ever get to “running” a marathon in this lifetime. Next week, we will celebrate 25 years of marriage. While Berlin had many challenges, it was symbolic of our life together. There is always a way to get to the end. You just have to be willing to find it. 💚
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| We had so much fun together! |
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| The marathoner’s reward! |
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| Cheers, nonalcoholic beer at the finish! Until next time… |
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