Life is a Marathon - If at First You Don't Succeed Try, Try, Again!
All my preparation - over in a few hours. I wish I could say at the end of the Marathon, but no, over at that point when I was forced to stop. I will never say I quit. I had to stop. About 5 miles into the race. 1/5 of the course and I was out. It all began with great enthusiasm. Music, people, energy. I was pumped. When I crossed the Start line I was overcome with emotion. The first step is to start and I had accomplished that. But slowly, the waves of people began to pass me, until about 2 miles in there was no one behind me! I was dead last. And I did not care. I was prepared to come in last. Come in at midnight if I had to. As I contuined the pack disappeared into the distance. The supporters faded back as they moved to the next spot to cheer on their loved one(s). The streets of Paris were car-free and people free except for me, the lone runner, and the police, medical and clean up crews that slowly began to drive past me. Just beyond the Paris Oper...