The race was the cherry on top of my 2 week visit w/ Caleb in Bosnia. Our journey began in Munich, where we met up with Denise and Emily (they were with SCHS' German club for spring break) for a meal and a night. The next morning the girls were off to continue their tour. Caleb and I tromped around Munich some more. Our favorite spot turned out to be the Augustiner Keller Biergarten, which features dozens of tables shaded by towering Chestnut trees, enormous pretzels and rivers of Edelstoff flowing from wooden barrels. On a stunningly sunny, cool April day this was just the place to pass time, catch up on Caleb's months in Europe and read a bit.
From Munich we traveled 12ish hours by bus to Zenica, where we were greeted by the ever jovial Jeff Summay. The highlight of our trip was hearing for the first of what would be many times that I am too young to have a son Caleb's age (or size, or something).The next several days were a blast and traveling north from Bosnia, through Hungary to Vienna in the backseat of the Summays' little car I took in the trip with the kind of instant nostalgia known only to those of us in the West. I was not ready for this to be over, and yet, one foot was already on the plane.
The couple of days we had in Vienna blew by, filled with sightseeing, eating yummy food and playing cities and knights in the hotel restaurant.
We rose early on the 17th and, after a bit of confusion that confirmed to me that listening to Caleb is a very good idea when using public transportation to meet someone in a large European city, we made it to the starting line, although we failed to find Jeff, sadly.
I don't know that I can come close to describing the atmosphere for this event. About 30,000 people (2/3 of them half marathoners) cram the starting stalls on Wagramerstraße between the Reichsbrücke and UN Buildings. For contrast, 18,000 people run the Pittsburgh Marathon/Half; 20,000 the Boston Marathon. Euro pop music pumps through the air, but you barely notice with the juices flowing. People scurry about for places to enjoy a last minute...umm...'bathroom' break. Every color imaginable is represented in the clothing, skin tone, architecture, signage and flora. Senses are barraged. Thousands of heads pop up and down as adrenaline filled runners attempt to glimpse what's going on ahead of them or simply have to move somehow.
Waiting with Caleb for the gun I was so giddy I could barely stand myself. Thrilled that he'd invited me. That he was running, when I know running bores him silly, but was joining Jeff and me in something we both love. In spite of his nagging knee pain.
After the gun, it takes roughly five minutes to navigate to the starting line, but that's just fine, because it's five more minutes to feed on the rush of the experience. Once there, the first couple of miles of actual racing are filled with dodging and weaving through the crowd. Wondering why some people register for these things (when they pass you later, you understand better). Taking in the surroundings of this marvelous city.
I won't pretend to know anything about Vienna. Suffice it to say that 1) One day I'll go back, and 2) there was always something to look at.
Things that stood out to me the most:
- The crazy dude we encountered around the 10 mile mark who was running the course backward. All of it.
- The crowd support every step of the way. Sometimes 4-5 people deep on the sidewalk. Sometimes thinner. Punk bands. Cheering nuns. Always someone.
- The architecture. Vienna is old. People have continuously lived there since the Celts arrived in 500 BC. Obviously none of the buildings are quite that old. But, there are some, like Ruprechtskirche (a 9th century church) and Stephans Cathedral (12th century) that have been around a long time. I nearly tripped over myself repeatedly trying to take it all in.
- Most importantly, the 2 hours running with Caleb. I knew he was in pain. He repeatedly apologized, thinking he was holding me back. What I told him and hope he knew was that being there, with him was so incredibly fun that I was happy to be going a bit slower than I might otherwise.
As he ran, Caleb's face flooded with a love for life I've seen in few people. It's something that's marked him most of his life, only sometimes hidden by circumstance, occasional attitude (I am describing a human being, after all) or pain in the life of someone he loves. Caleb has a knack for being where he is. That day in Vienna he was as free of these as the sky was free of clouds. I could think of no where I'd rather be.
In our 'everybody's a winner' world, finishing a half marathon earns you a medal. The one they gave me in Vienna is already tarnished. But, no amount of time can tarnish the thrill of crossing that finish line with Caleb.
As Psalm 127.3 rightly says, 'Children are a heritage of the LORD, fruit of the womb a reward.' For me, my son is reward enough.
In our 'everybody's a winner' world, finishing a half marathon earns you a medal. The one they gave me in Vienna is already tarnished. But, no amount of time can tarnish the thrill of crossing that finish line with Caleb.
As Psalm 127.3 rightly says, 'Children are a heritage of the LORD, fruit of the womb a reward.' For me, my son is reward enough.
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