I was running a hard marathon yesterday. Over the first 5-6k, I developed a stomachache that nearly ended my run. In all the years that I have been running marathons, I have never experienced anything so painful. At first, I did not know what to do with it. Then an idea came to my mind – I should stop avoiding it and just be there with this pain. Become one with the pain. It did not make it easier, but it made me see it in a different light. I moved my mind from the person who was simply hurt to the one who was solving a problem. I struggled for the next 9k with my stomach feeling better and worse. At 14k, I realized that I could run again. I took off. I had all this time I needed to make up. This was the most inspiring run I ever had. I felt stronger as I was getting closer to the finish line, and I kept on running. The finish time? 3:45, which is about 5 minutes faster than my average marathon this year. This experience taught me about coming back, no matter how far behind you are.