WASHINGTON 鈥� They say life is a marathon, not a sprint, and for Selina Ruiz, of San Francisco, the Marine Corps Marathon is 鈥渁 huge metaphor鈥� for her story.
鈥�(It’s) kind of been the story of my life that Marines have motivated me and my family the whole way,鈥� said Ruiz. 鈥淓ven when my dad was gone, there鈥檚 always brothers looking out for you.鈥�
And so even though she鈥檚 run three marathons before, this race, on a course that winds its way through the nation鈥檚 capital, lined with Marines yelling and cheering the runners on, 鈥渕eans more.鈥�
The Marine Corps is as much a part of Ruiz鈥檚 family as her siblings. Her dad spent 30 years on active duty before retiring, and now her brother is a Marine stationed in Japan.
鈥淭he Marines have been just a staple in my life,鈥� said Ruiz, who said the lessons she learned as her family was moved around from base to base still serve her well. 鈥淚 learned how to make friends very quickly. I became a very good people reader.鈥�
You can tell by talking to her that the heavy involvement of the Marines is what makes this race so appealing for Ruiz, who works as a literacy coach.
鈥淗aving Marines on the course, whether I know them or not, is kind of symbolic of Marines having my back my whole life,鈥� said Ruiz. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 count on knowing any of them. The Marines are so huge, but I think there have been so many father figures in my life that have been my dad (or) Marine Corps brothers.鈥�
Then, jokingly: 鈥淲hen they鈥檙e all wearing uniforms they all kind of look the same, so it鈥檒l be very easy to just kind of remember my childhood and think of the Marines who came in and out of my life to support my family when my dad was there, and also when my dad wasn鈥檛 there. So I think it鈥檒l be a big reflective moment of the hundreds of Marines that have been a part of our life, and that will continue to be a part of our life.鈥�
While she admires the corps, Ruiz said she鈥檚 really running for her family, 鈥減art tribute to the years of service that my father did, and (also) to the years of service that I鈥檓 sure my brother will do.鈥�
She also witnessed firsthand the need to develop a “never give up” attitude to life. Selina describes her mother as the one who had to be both the disciplinarian at home, and the one who could be warm and fuzzy when things got rough.
鈥淪he never showed how difficult it was, which I think was another Marine Corps value,鈥� said Ruiz. 鈥淵ou just grit through it.鈥�
And so it鈥檚 only fitting that Ruiz鈥檚 mother will be the one waiting for her at the finish line this year, though she expects her dad to be following along online, cheering her on from home.
The 26.2-mile run is sure to be grueling, and there will be times where it won’t be much fun. But she has faith in the all those Marines 鈥� like she always has.
鈥淭hey鈥檝e always been there; they鈥檒l always be there motivating you, pushing you, and knowing you can do better even if you think you鈥檙e doing your best they know that you can do better.
鈥淪o I hope to feel that on the course,鈥� said Ruiz. 鈥淚 think that they鈥檒l provide that, because I know that they鈥檝e provided that for me my entire life.鈥�
