Full Report: P.F.Chang’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Arizona

Near the finish

I don’t even know where to start. So. I’m going to start at the finish and work backwards. This year’s P.F. Chang’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Arizona was one of the most exciting, most moving, most emotionally complicated and exhausting event that I’ve ever done. I’ll do my best to capture it all, but I’m afraid that some of the feelings won’t completely surface for some time.

The photo is of Pat and me coming up to the marathon finish line. Pat’s daughter and wife had given me the head’s up that he was on his way. It was late in the race, nearly everyone had gone home, but we were there to celebrate Pat’s victory. And a victory it was. You see, Pat had quadrouple bypass surgery a few years ago. He’s done 17 marathons since then but this was his most difficult. It had not been a great day for him. But he was not going to be denied.

I was also at the finish when my friend Carol finished her 236th marathon. That would be impressive enough, but she is only 9 weeks post radical surgery for breast cancer. I hugged her. She cried. I cried. Her friend Cheryl cried. It was such a powerful statement of self determination and courage that it took my breath away.

And then there was the 70 plus year-old man who walked a bit unsteadily across the finish line. He has Parkinson’s Disease. But he, like Pat and Carol, was not going to be told how to live his life.

These are just three of the thousands of stories from the weekend. These are just three of the thousands of reasons why I am so proud to be a part of this event, and others like it. I would never take anything away from the talented folks at the front of the field, but, if you want to see unadulterated courage in the face of unfathomable obstacles, stick around and watch the final finishers.

The night before I had been moved to tears by the Team in Training Mission Moment given by a father who was honoring his daughter on the 10th anniversary of her death by completing the marathon. He has raised over $140,000 through Team in Training and serves as an example of how to take personal tragedy and use it for a greater good. And he, like the others, finished long after the crowds had left.

The starts, on the other hand, of both the full and the half marathon were simply unbelievably fun. Phoenix mayor Phil Gordon and Arizona Senator John McCain joined me on the announcer’s stand. I figured they’d fire the gun and scoot out. But NO! They not only stayed through the full start but pumped up EVERY corral in the half marathon. They were there for nearly an hour waving at enthusiastic runners and walkers. It was a total gas.

And then there was the expo seminars where I got to spend time wit Deena Kastor, Josh Cox, Ryan Hall, Greg Meyer, Steve Scott, and the legendary Frank Shorter. Sometimes I have to pinch myself. I am such a huge fan of the sport of running that I am THE most enthusiastic member of the audience.

AND, I got to run three times along the SRP canal in 70 degree temperatures, bright sunshine, and blue skies.

If I’ve had a more perfect weekend, I can’t remember it. Now it’s off to New Orleans for the NEW Rock ‘n’ Roll event there at the end of February.

Waddle on,

John “the Penguin” Bingham, Competitor Magazine columnist Author, The Courage to Start, No Need for Speed, Marathoning for Mortals and Running for Mortals.

“The miracle isn’t that I finished.

The miracle is that I had the courage to start.”

Have a question for John? E-mail it to thepenguin@johnbingham.com.