Meaning of marathon runs deep

Charlotte Dobbs

The last four days have been extraordinary. Having an idea is one

thing. Seeing it evolve into a three-dimensional, living experience

is quite another.

I’m humbled by the experience, knowing how much effort has gone

into the first OC Marathon by so many people. As I stood watching the

inaugural marathon and half-marathon begin with physically challenged

athletes, I was reminded of all we take for granted in life -- seeing

the first flickers of morning light as the sun stretches into the

day, hearing the sweet sounds of early birds greeting the day as we

hold a pillow over our ears only wanting five more minutes of sleep,

walking into the shower to not only wake up but to regroup for a new

day. Walking. Talking. Thinking. Smelling. Feeling.

How lucky I have been. How lucky so many of us have been. And

then, at the start line for the first OC Marathon, I watch as Amy

Dodson -- sponsored by Irvine-based prosthetic company Freedom

Innovations -- readies for the marathon with her one “natural” leg

and the other leg that is a “recreated” leg. And there are three

other “runners” without leg power who are set to begin this race in

nifty little go-cart vehicles run by arm power, and I can’t help but

cry tears of joy that we have created something that allows everyone

to “run” a marathon -- to have a personal challenge and go the

distance.

Then, I move on to the starting line for the 5K and Mayor’s Walk.

When I arrive at the start line, I smile at a young teenager with his

mother. He’s in a wheel chair, ready to take on the 5K. The teenager

has cerebral palsy, and he smiles back at me and communicates with

his mother in a wordless way. She looks over at me and smiles. I am

so full of emotion. It is that one moment when I want to have every

member of the ROCK [Run for Orange County Kids] Board there, on that

exact spot, to know why we worked so hard to put this marathon

together. It wasn’t so we could have 10,000 runners. It wasn’t so we

could attract runners from 38 states and nine countries. It wasn’t so

we could infuse the Orange County economy with revenue. It was so we

could help all of those children who have to work 10 million times harder than we ever work to get up in the morning and do everything

else we all take for granted. And for that, I thank you all for

making the OC Marathon a reality.

* CHARLOTTE DOBBS is a founder of the Orange County Marathon,

which ran through Newport Beach and Irvine. The three-day event

included six races and raised money for children’s charities.