Having a truly winning spirit • November 4, 2006 | 6:22 p.m.

Last night, I attended the very inspirational Runner’s World 2006 Heroes in Running awards ceremony. This was the perfect pre-race event for its uplifting atmosphere. I left feeling proud of everyone in the room and glad to be a part of the community and the celebration. For a few hours, I took in the presence of some truly awe-inspiring athletes, runners who have been using their celebrity to improve the lives of others. In addition to being great athletes, many of them have championed worthy causes and spent their time and energy educating people about the benefits of their sport.    

The most amazing among them is Rudy Garcia-Tolson. He is conclusive proof that the human spirit can transcend even crushing limits to realize a dream. Despite Rudy’s two prosthetic legs, he runs a 5:57 mile! He saw himself not as a person with a severe handicap, but as an athlete. I smile just thinking about the life he made for himself and the person he has become.

To me, it is one of the greatest truths in life that through vision anyone can turn a dream into a reality. Rudy is a prime example of this. So is the “Today” show’s Natalie Morales, who matter-of-factly lives that truth everyday. When I met her she told me that she started her career in banking, but knew she would one day become a journalist and work in television. I knew almost immediately that she had a winner’s determination and spirit. She set her sites on a career just as she set her sites on tomorrow’s marathon.

That winning spirit is the same quality that anyone battling cancer can use to see their life beyond it. I know that it isn’t always so easy to focus on the positive while undergoing treatment. I can remember some chemo weekends carrying around the ever present worry that I might be beginning the decent into truly bad times. But those thoughts have to be brushed away in favor of visualizing the future you want.

For me, cancer turned out to be a bump in the road on the way to a good life. Six months after finishing treatment, I had a fleeting thought that I would like to run a marathon. The fleeting thought became persistent and then demanding. Tomorrow, I will be lining up with Natalie and 37,000 others with that same winning spirit. Maybe a few people watching or reading this will get the running bug that is waiting just beyond their bump in the road and line up with me next year.

On a lighter note, at last night’s ceremony, Paul Tergat, the world’s fastest marathoner, stood near my table while waiting to accept his award. I thought about touching him, sort of like rubbing Buddha’s belly, but decided that it might be rude. So instead, I consciously breathed very deeply in his presence. I am pretty sure I got some of his oxygen. I am thinking that this will add some of his magic to my run tomorrow. He is thinking that he encountered a true New York nut job.  

I am very pumped up for tomorrow. Hope I can sleep tonight, but I know it won’t be easy.

MORE FROM TODAY RUNS A MARATHON

Today Runs a Marathon Section Front

Runner’s diet: food as fuel Natalie’s journal: Just behind Lance Armstrong Karen’s journal: Great day in my life Foods to avoid when you’re running Runners’ best grocery list of all time Hit the road in style with high-tech gear How busy parents can find time for exercising Never run before? Here’s how to get started Quiz: Best snacks? Good Housekeeping: Walk not run Today Runs a Marathon Section Front   Add Today Runs a Marathon headlines to your news reader: