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October 2001 Marathon update:
High! Folks!
Well I am back home from again stilt walking the Dublin
Marathon with the Rocky
Mountain Chapter of the Arthritis Foundation Joints in Motion Team.
WHAT A BLAST!
First, let me say that I had tons of help and a very tall
thank you to you all!
As it turned out, my fund raising total of $5878.20 qualified
me for 3rd place
in the fund raising totals. I about fell out of my chair when
they
announced at the pasta party that I had won 3rd place and brought me up
on stage
to receive my award: a very nice crystal lidded vase? pedestal candy
dish?, not
sure what to call it, but it sure is pretty.
The Dublin Team raised a total of $70,531.55 so far!!!!!!!!!!!
The Rocky Mountain Chapter raised over $70,500 and took 11
athletes and a
total of 21 people to the Dublin Marathon. There was a total
of 1400
Joints in Motion Athletes nationwide attending the Dublin
Marathon. Along
with 400 Staff, Coaches and Guests. I understand that this
represents a
new attendance record and fundraising record.
As to the race itself, WOW! I started in the middle
of about 7000 racers.
Some in costume. There was "Chief" who I had met in 1999. American
Indian Headdress with red, white and blue pants. Also a giant
rhino head,
among others. I wore my signature ostrich plumed top hat,
yellow and red
striped clown shirt under my bright neon green Joints in Motion Team
jersey and
black pants. Accessorized with green gloves and a bright pink
feather
duster!
The course change this year brought us out to the docks where
the wind was a
great challenge. In fact for much of the race the wind was a factor to
contend
with. A strong head wind forced me to go faster to maintain
any kind of
momentum. The cross wind was the worst, bringing me to a halt
2 or 3
times, and forcing me to crab walk, or walk sideways in order to
maintain my
bearings. Did the first half of the marathon in 3 hours and 19 minutes
and 54
seconds. As the wind and distance took its toll, I slowed
down, the second
half took a whooping 5 hours, 33 minutes and 18 seconds. By
the 17 mile my
feet were heavily
blistered, by the 19 mile the blisters had torn open and my feet were
raw and
shredded.
At that point I stopped to get my feet taped. Thank
you Mike and
Patrick and Marnie! Although it took 40 minutes to locate
tape and apply
it, it allowed me to continue. Jerry, my partner, met me at
the 20 mile
mark and walked with me to the finish line. Good thing too,
as the finish
lined approached, the wind which had calmed, now increased in its
bluster. For
parts of the last mile and a half I took Jerry's hand to stay upright!
Total time was 8 hours, 57 minutes and 58 seconds.
There were around 7000
starters. 6152 of us finished the race, and 26 people finished after I
did!
It took me 4 minutes 46 seconds after the start just to get to the
starting
line, the crowd was so big, and I was in the middle
of the pack. So my net walking time for the 26 miles was 8 hours, 53
minutes and
12 seconds. Not bad for a 48 year old clown!
That is an hour and a half better than what I did in 1999!
Less adventure this year than in 1999: I didn't get
lost at all, let alone
twice! And I never did find that kid that tried to pull my pants down!
Both
years we missed attending an Irish circus. We hit the week in
between TWO
different circus troupes performances in Dublin. Also missed
the Dublin
Halloween Parade, which was held at the same time as the Pasta Party.
Oh well,
maybe next time!
We had a wonderful time, friendly and helpful people every
where. Outbound, we
went through the Denver International Airport check in in less than a
half hour!
British Airways was terrific.
Walking tall, and stretching imaginations!
Bill "Stretch" Coleman
Denver, Colorado, USA
http://Stiltwalker.com/
303-907-3855
For more information:
www.jointsinmotion.com
http://www.dublincitymarathon.ie/
race photos are at:
www.asiorders.com
http://Stiltwalker.com/
Marnie Ward
Joints in Motion Coordinator
Arthritis Foundation
Rocky Mountain Chapter
2280 S. Albion Street
Denver, CO 80222-4906
303-756-8622 x245
1-800-475-6447
mward@arthritis.org
Arthritis is no walk in the park...It's a Marathon!!!!! Join
the "Joints in
Motion Training Team" to Walk or Run a marathon in Dublin, Honolulu,
Alaska
or Disney World and help the 43 million Americans with
arthritis.
Train with us for the journey of a lifetime!
March 2001 Marathon update:
Well Jerry and I are back in training for the 2001 Dublin
Marathon.
http://www.dublincitymarathon.ie/
After successfully completing the 1999 marathon for the
Arthritis
Foundation (see below) we are back at it for this year's
marathon.
Have raised over $2000 so far out of a goal of
$10,000.
To sponsor Stretch or Jerry Just make the check out to the Arthritis Foundation and indicate that it is to sponsor STRETCH - the nine foot clown or Jerry and mail to their offices at:
Arthritis
Foundation, 2280 South Albion St.,
Denver Colorado, 80222
ARTHRITIS FOUNDATION
WEB PAGE
My contact at the Arthritis Foundation is Tom Christner
TChristn@arthritis.org
303-756-8622
If you would like to join us in
our training, give me a call at
303-907-3855. You'll find us circling Athmar Park in the
mornings 2 or 3
times a week as our schedule allows.
STRETCH
will be participating in the Arthritis Foundations Joints in Motion
fundraising MARATHON
(26.2 miles) to be held in Dublin, Ireland, October 25, 1999.
Of course, I will be doing it on stilts (other wise it would be work, on
stilts it is play!). Last year, I'm told, participants
included a 72 year old woman who completed the marathonin 8 hours 32 minutes with
two artificial knees! So far I'm up to 18
miles in my training.
Nice way to meet all the neighbors in the neighborhood!
Fundraising is coming along
well, so far I've raised $6500. Would like to raise $10,000.
My sister has some kind of
arthritis, they keep changing their mind on what kind! Her
spine is so bad, it is
pinching the nerves and now her hands keep falling asleep. My
ma's side
of family, the men get gout, so far I'm symptom free.
Folks can sponsor me by the
mile: $1 a mile, ($26)- $2 ($52) - $3,($78) etc. or by the step.
With a 6 foot stride,
that's very economical! $1 a step comes to $23,056. :>)
MARATHON UPDATE
* * * * *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Denver,
Colorado
10-31-99
HIGH! Everyone!
Greetings from Stretch!
I did it!
| Near 4 years ago at age 43 I embarked on
my 2nd childhood as a nine And this last Monday I
successfully stilt walked the Dublin, Ireland I entertained a wonderful
crowd of 6500+ runners, walkers and spectators The Irish children are so
charming! I was encouraged all the way: some With my head in the trees,
I lost my way twice, I kept missing some Had some trouble with my feet and was slowed down
changing socks. Still The weather was near perfect. Cool to cold with
little wind. As soon as The fundraising for the
Arthritis Foundation is going well, had more |
Keep watching this space for updates and more photos as they come in.
http://Stiltwalker.com/dublin4.jpg
Thank you, each and
every one of you for your encouragement,
contibutions,
well wishes and
prayers.
Walk Tall, (and have an adventure!)
Bill "Stretch" Coleman