"Now That's Crazy"

Since 1983 there has been a race held in Greece which traces the footsteps of Pheidippides, an Athenian messenger sent to Sparta in 490 BC to seek help against the Persians in the Battle of Marathon. The distance is about 246 kiloomteres and the course record is fittingly held by Greek Yiannis Kouros, in a time of 20 hours, 25 minutes. That's 5 minute kms! He also holds the 4 fastest times ever with the next closest time being almost 2 hours slower. This years race, just completed, had 132 finishers out of a starting field of 320. There is a 36 hour cutoff time. Now that's crazy eh? What possesses people to do such things? Is it a sickness, an addiction of some kind? Who's to say? Certainly I can't see spending the amount of time it must require to train, but to each his own I guess.

I know that my strong run around the block the other day has me thinking again about some dreams I had given up on. I mentioned that I'm pretty sure that I can do a 40 min 10k again but I've done that and more before. My 10k PB is 37:30. There are a few other tougher goals that I never achieved . I have been on pace for a 3 hour marathon as far as 35 kms into it, and on pace for a 5 hour half IM well into the run. Then in both cases I bonked. I'm quite a lot older now so what makes me think that maybe I could get there now? Well older usually means wiser eh, and I learned so much about training and racing during my IM experience. I'm not sure yet, but I'm considering putting both of those goals back on my bucket list. I know they are both a big stretch though. For example a 3 hour marathon would have put me 3rd out of 240 in my age group in the recently completed Toronto Marathon! ....hmmm...Like I say, a major stretch!

And why? Maybe just because I think it will be very hard. And maybe just because I think it will be good for my soul because it will have a healthy home. And maybe just because I think it will make me a better person. Or maybe just becasue I enjoy it? Or maybe just because I'm an idiot!!

A few Thank You's. First Old John. You are not afraid to be critical which I respect, and it also makes your compliments that much sweeter. Secondly, Cory, for putting me straight on the catheter thing. You very nicely reminded me that it's really not a laughing matter to some people. ....But... what about the condom kind of thing with the tube on it? That would work good don't you think? I could strap the other end of the tube to my shoe so I didn't have to pee down my leg.

Oh, I almost forgot. Up town today I seen a man with no legs. He wasn't complaining so how dare I?

"Go for the moon. If you don't get it, you'll still be heading for a star."---Franklin Delano

"Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, magic, and power in it."---Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

...and this ones a bit long but worth it I think...

"Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative and creation, there is one elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in ones favor all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and material assistance which no man could have dreamed would have come his way."---W.H. Murray

love
peter