This
race should have been easier today. The Fin del Mundo marathon - the marathon
at the end of the world, since Ushuaia, where it is held, is the southern
most city in the world. I felt fine during the first 13 miles which were
run in the picturesque Tierra del Fuego National Park at the tip of the
Andes. The Chilean border was a half mile from the start, and the towering
snow-covered mountains framed the first half of the run. I felt fine until
the 16 mile mark, and then my body didn't want to cooperate with my mind.
I started slowing down - my hips hurt, my hamstring hurt, my ARMS even
hurt. I popped a few Advil and trudged on, but by now we were on the streets
of Ushuaia, which were left open to traffic, and my mind was playing the
game of trying to find any reason to slow down or stop. The fumes from
the cars and trucks were bothering me. Every little incline was bothering
me. I felt absolutely miserable - more tired than I've ever felt in a
race. What was wrong with me?
But then, I got motivated. I thought of how accommodating my colleagues
at Cinergy have been through their support and schedule flexibility. I
thought of the email I'd just received from the office, telling me I'd
surpassed $120,000 in fundraising, with over 400 friends, companies, and
total strangers contributing to my effort to help the March of Dimes.
And hanging on to that thought got me through the end of the marathon.
So I really owe my finish to my supporters whose generosity and commitment
got this chicken-legged old guy over the finish line
So now I'm faced with
28 hours of travel to get home - and I can't wait to see my family, friends,
get back to the office and catch up. This has been an outstanding experience
- I've kayaked around icebergs as a pod of humpback whales breached so
close to me that they splashed me. I've met scores of other runners who
each had a story - some were running away from the past and some were
running toward the future. I've walked among thousands of penguins. I've
seen configurations of ice that would make any sculptor jealous. I've
got a beard and look semi-homeless, and right now all I want to do is
get home and hold Linda.
Postscript: Got home last Wednesday at 1PM and ninety minutes later I
was shaved, showered, suit and tied, and at my desk. Went to a fundraiser
that night.....back at it.
This
race should have been easier today. The Fin del Mundo marathon - the marathon
at the end of the world, since Ushuaia, where it is held, is the southern
most city in the world. I felt fine during the first 13 miles which were
run in the picturesque Tierra del Fuego National Park at the tip of the
Andes. The Chilean border was a half mile from the start, and the towering
snow-covered mountains framed the first half of the run. I felt fine until
the 16 mile mark, and then my body didn't want to cooperate with my mind.
I started slowing down - my hips hurt, my hamstring hurt, my ARMS even
hurt. I popped a few Advil and trudged on, but by now we were on the streets
of Ushuaia, which were left open to traffic, and my mind was playing the
game of trying to find any reason to slow down or stop. The fumes from
the cars and trucks were bothering me. Every little incline was bothering
me. I felt absolutely miserable - more tired than I've ever felt in a
race. What was wrong with me?
So now I'm faced with
28 hours of travel to get home - and I can't wait to see my family, friends,
get back to the office and catch up. This has been an outstanding experience
- I've kayaked around icebergs as a pod of humpback whales breached so
close to me that they splashed me. I've met scores of other runners who
each had a story - some were running away from the past and some were
running toward the future. I've walked among thousands of penguins. I've
seen configurations of ice that would make any sculptor jealous. I've
got a beard and look semi-homeless, and right now all I want to do is
get home and hold Linda.