Author Topic: a tale of victory  (Read 8036 times)

a non-amos

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a tale of victory
« on: October 23, 2011, 03:08:48 PM »
This is not my victory, but certainly worth repeating.

Mrs. A. participated in "Into the Darkness", an athletic event in nighttime trail running.  Yes, this is a running event in which you need a headlamp.  I am not kidding.

There were many thrills and spills, several contestants needing stitches, but Mrs. A. finished unscathed.  She knows every protruding root and rock on those trails.

She placed sixth in her age group, which is extremely good for a non-runner.  She dusted several twenty-somethings and thirty-somethings, and quite a few fourty-ish.

From what I have heard, the main reason she did not take a trophy was that she assumed she would be relegated to the back of the pack.  She voluntarily started out in a rather poor position, and it can be devilishly hard to pass on a narrow trail in the dark.

Finishing makes this a win.  Having fun in the process makes this a double-win.  Finishing well is astounding.

- A :)
Carpe digitus.
(Roughly translated, this is possibly the world's oldest "pull my finger" joke)

biggerbirdbrain

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Re: a tale of victory
« Reply #1 on: October 23, 2011, 11:46:03 PM »
Mrs. A deserves an A-plus!  ;D

technomc

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Re: a tale of victory
« Reply #2 on: October 24, 2011, 12:09:34 AM »
You go girl......good on her.....

birdy

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Re: a tale of victory
« Reply #3 on: October 24, 2011, 02:29:58 AM »
Good for her indeed!

a non-amos

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Re: a tale of victory
« Reply #4 on: October 24, 2011, 02:23:12 PM »
They published the finishing times.

Her time beat 10 in the 25 to 29 age group and she beat 5 in the 20 to 24 age group.

My hero.
Carpe digitus.
(Roughly translated, this is possibly the world's oldest "pull my finger" joke)

cb

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Re: a tale of victory
« Reply #5 on: October 26, 2011, 02:15:06 AM »
Fantastic! Well done to her.

My hubby and son have both taken part in a 10+k night-run cross country, with added obstacles, called The Mighty Deerstalker.

I'm not brave/barmy enough to join them and stick to running on streets or off-road only during daylight.

p.s. What distance did Mrs.A. have to run?
cb

a non-amos

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Re: a tale of victory
« Reply #6 on: October 27, 2011, 02:21:30 PM »
The distance was a little over 4 miles, maybe 6 or 7 km, not quite as long as yours.  I still believe it was a great finish, especially for a non-runner.

I fully approve of the wearing of the tartans, but must wonder about what happens when one of the contestants trips and stumbles down the mountain.  I have been in similar circumstance, fortunately not in tartan at the time.

- A
Carpe digitus.
(Roughly translated, this is possibly the world's oldest "pull my finger" joke)

cb

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Re: a tale of victory
« Reply #7 on: October 28, 2011, 02:48:11 AM »
I fully approve of the wearing of the tartans, but must wonder about what happens when one of the contestants trips and stumbles down the mountain. 

They get horribly cold and wet and muddy - and often smelly.  It isn't 'clean' mud.

And then they bring it all home for their wife/mother to wash for them.

cb

pat

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Re: a tale of victory
« Reply #8 on: October 28, 2011, 02:53:51 AM »
I somehow don't think that's what A meant, cb!

technomc

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Re: a tale of victory
« Reply #9 on: October 31, 2011, 11:30:05 PM »
A little breezy round the trussocks me thinks...

a non-amos

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Re: a tale of victory
« Reply #10 on: November 02, 2011, 01:59:39 PM »
T, you thinks correctly.

When marching with a rather large bass drum, you cannot see where you are marching.  You must rely on the person marching ahead of you to offer some warning of upcoming obstacles.  Sometimes it works, sometimes not so much.

Inertia took me entirely upside down (inverted), rolling over the drum.

This was not on a trail run, but I imagine the same principle might apply.
Carpe digitus.
(Roughly translated, this is possibly the world's oldest "pull my finger" joke)

Hobbit

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Re: a tale of victory
« Reply #11 on: November 02, 2011, 08:38:31 PM »
Oh A!  Thank you so much for cheering up a rather dull, boring November morning!  I don't suppose it was funny when it happened but it does conjure up a wonderful image of a large bass drum & a kilt & a bit of a somersault!  :laugh:
Congratulations to Mrs A. What a fantastic achievement - she deserves a medal.
If life gives you lemons, add a large gin & some tonic...

a non-amos

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Re: a tale of victory
« Reply #12 on: November 12, 2011, 04:02:52 PM »
Back to the original topic, at least for a moment.

Back in the day, my wife had gone to an athletic shoe place to get (oddly enough) running shoes.

They were somewhat insulting, heavily insinuating that her selection of shoes might be heavily influenced by the color of her outfit.

As if!!!

She went back there more recently, and it appears she might be on their short list of people who need at least some attention.

Those shoes did not work out quite right in the last marathon?  I am sure we can trade them in and find "just what you need".

Quite frankly, they ought to be paying this much attention to the people walking in off the street.  At some point, every major customer had been some random person walking in off the street.  My opinion.
Carpe digitus.
(Roughly translated, this is possibly the world's oldest "pull my finger" joke)

birdy

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Re: a tale of victory
« Reply #13 on: November 13, 2011, 01:08:50 PM »
I have always particularly treasured the scene in "Pretty Woman" when she walks back into the shop where she had been insulted and given short shrift earlier and points out how much they'd lost in commissions when they refused to serve her.

a non-amos

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Re: a tale of victory
« Reply #14 on: December 29, 2011, 03:18:06 PM »
They appear to be doing it again, this time with the likelihood of ice and snow on the trail.

They have limited the number of contestants, I assume in an effort not to overflow the emergency rooms.

Mrs. A made the cut, and is well positioned to trophy.  Or slip and fall off of a mountain.

We are trying to gear up, acquiring footwear with additional traction on snow and ice.  Preparedness might be a good thing.

I would not bet against her, ever.
Carpe digitus.
(Roughly translated, this is possibly the world's oldest "pull my finger" joke)