Tuesday, November 06, 2007

Overcoming Obstacles

While the ChennaiRunners were running on the ECR last Sunday, the largest ever NYC marathon was also happening. About Forty thousand runners pounded the streets of NYC and Paul Radcliffe one of them. She won the marathon with a timing of 2:23:09. So what's big about this? It is BIG because she had given birth just 9 months back and had several nagging injuries that almost pulled her out of the race. But, she still ran and won.

There were also some sombre moment. Ryan Shay (28) who has run several marathons before this one died preparing for it. The cause of his death is still unclear, but how do you explain the sudden death of a 28 year old who had clean chit of health and had no known health problems. This news is kind of disturbing, but for somethings in life acceptance is the best answer...

But on the positive side..
NYC Marathon had a record participation of 39, 085 runners and a good number of them (38, 676) actually completed the race. The oldest participants were a 85 year old woman and 86 year man and both completed the marathon with a timing of 5:58:58 and 7:22:17 respectively. And here I am, thinking of 'retiring' from marathons after completing 10.

As I read through the triumphs of various runners, I am reminded of Randy Pausch last lecture where he talks about walls and the reason behind them..
the brick walls are there for a reason. The brick walls are not there to keep us out. The brick walls are there to give us a chance to show how badly we want something. Because the brick walls are there to stop the people who don’t want it badly enough. They’re there to stop the other people.
Coming back to NYC Marathon, NYTimes has a wealth of coverage of here.

8 comments:

  1. Hi Ram, shocked to think that you can think of retiring!!! you are quite an inspiration for most of us... half your age and less than half your energy.

    Good post, liked the way you linked it to the Randy Pausch article..

    thank you for posting.

    cheers,

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  2. Ram;
    NY post was reporting that he had some issues with an enlarged heart or something like that.
    K.Shyam

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  3. Yes Ram, Ryan shay's incident was quite disturbing and Paula's winning was very inspiring.

    BTW, you dont think about retiring from marathons so soon, we need inspiring people like you to motivate youngsters.

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  4. G'day,

    " the brick walls are there for a reason. The brick walls are not there to keep us out. The brick walls are there to give us a chance to show how badly we want something. Because the brick walls are there to stop the people who don’t want it badly enough. They’re there to stop the other people."

    Isnt this quote from Randy Pausch's final lecture?

    BTW, thanks for uploading Randy's lecture. Twas inspiring.

    Cheers,

    Sriram

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  5. Correction: Shay died during the US Olympic marathon trials held the previous day in Central Park.

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  6. George..
    Half my age.. now.. that's a stretch even for an actor.. !!!!

    K.Shyam
    Right.. Ryan was diagnosed with 'enlarged heart' when he was 14.. but he bad been checked repeatedly and all was reported to be well..

    Mohan
    Thanks.. I have 7 more to go.. will see when I reach that milestone..

    Sri
    yes.. it is from Randy Pausch lecture..

    Anony
    Yes.. you are right..

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  7. ha ha ha .... maybe mentally I am half your age!!! jokes aside... pls erase the thought... we need you to keep inspiring us on with your running.

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  8. Good one Ram. I am seriously considering doing the NY next year. Lets make that your 5th marathon !!

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