Tyler.
Picking up from yesterday, he was my number one reason I couldn’t quit.
Ty is one of the most amazing human beings on the planet. I think I’ve talked about him on the blog before, and I know you don’t know him, so I’ll try not to gush on and on and on (which I know I have a bit of a tendency to do sometimes). But he is the sweetest of sweethearts. He has always been one of my very biggest supporters. He has this amazing ability to believe that I can do anything.
I like to think I believe in myself. And I always do… when it’s something I think I have the ability to do. But he has never faltered in his belief that I can do things that are seemingly out of my ability level.
Every single time he thought I could play a solo, or ace an audition, or do anything that seemed too far from where I was at the time, I did it. Somehow he always knew better than I did what I was truly capable of. I am so lucky to know him, and I appreciate him to no end.
Last year, he was serving in Afghanistan at this time. I sent him a card for his birthday. Not long after (our birthdays our six days (and some years) apart), he sent me probably the sweetest birthday message I’ve ever gotten. And he promised that at some point he was going to send me a surprise. How exciting! I love surprises.
It took a while to get this surprise. I suppose he was busy protecting people, or something. You know how it is over in Afghanistan… I’m guessing you don’t always have time to worry about your friend’s birthday surprises. Not that long ago (as this year’s birthday started to sneak up), I got my surprise. It was the bandana he used to wear in Afghanistan. He told me that he thought I might like to wear it in my first marathon. Of course I would!
I wasn’t sure where to wear it, so I tied it around my wrist. It ended up being the perfect spot, because anytime I started to feel as though it was all too much, and the trail was too hard, and the sleep was too good-sounding, I felt the bandana. It was as though he was there holding my hand through the marathon.
He was such a sweetheart during the race. As if it wasn’t enough that he’d given me a present that was helping me get through, thankfully he texted me when I needed him the most. He told me to “keep going. One foot in front of the other. You have all the time in the world.” And he said he was proud of me.
Oh goodness. If Ty is proud, I’m doing something right. He would never give up. And he would never believe that I would either. So, how could I? I’ve always done everything else Ty believed I could do. ‘m not about to lose his belief in me now!
On and on I went. His support meant everything to me. I don’t know how I could’ve done it without him.
Yeah, I said I wasn’t going to gush on and on. I guess I didn’t really mean that, ’cause it just happened. How could I stop myself? Ty’s amazing. I desperately needed him during this race. And, as he always is, he was right there for me.
I’ll pick up talking about the marathon Thursday.