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Here's my story (or at least the memorable part): Around mile 16 I began to
run out of gas, which surprised me as I thought I was better prepared for the
run. At mile 17, the cramps started and continued about every 100-300 yards
for the rest of the race.
I'm sure you have had cramps before, I certainly have, and its always the
same: Everything seems to be working fine and then WHAM! Its like I've been
shot in the calf, thigh or hamstring in one (or both) legs. Along with the pain
is the sudden, gasping skip/stagger/stumble to a halt and then the hobble out
of the others' path to find a place to stretch until you can walk again.
After about 2 miles of this, I became pretty discouraged and began to think
of quitting. I knew I had more than 6 miles left of cramps to hobble through
and that they probably wouldn't 'just go away'.
However, I hung in there. I figured I was going to finish the race, even if
I had to walk the whole damn thing!
As I approached mile 22 (still cramping), one of the quotes you sent out
before the race came to mind. It was the one attributed to Oprah: "I don't care
what religion you are, at mile 22...you see Jesus"
I kind of chuckled at that as I limped past the 22 mile marker (and then the
water station) and wondered to myself if maybe one of the Hispanic volunteers
was named 'Jesus'. I was still pondering this when I happened to look across
the street into the courtyard of some kind of automotive shop, and there it
was: About a 10'x10' mural of Jesus' face painted on the outside wall of the
garage!
Even if I cramp all the way through next year's race, I've got to run this
again just to see if I can spot that painting a second time.
That's my story (and I'm sticking to it).
Tom
AF class of 2003
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