Comments on: If You Had Only One Race in You …

By: IHateToast

IHateToast — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 06:36:27 +0000

oooh… i don’t know. i have read your article a few times in hopes of finding an answer and it just makes me sad.
i don’t want to know when the end is at hand.

very thought provoking…
i don’t know.

now my brain hurts.

By: Rob

Rob — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 06:21:25 +0000

Well if I had one last race in me I would want it to last as long as possible and be an epic journey. I would have to choose the Trans-America race approximately 3100 miles across the United States. What Else?

By: Soozan

Soozan — Mon, 20 Nov 2006 23:23:59 +0000

Oh Anne, Great article! I want every race to end with all of those emotions – smiles, tears, with friends and alone. How does one choose?

By: Linda

Linda — Mon, 20 Nov 2006 21:54:16 +0000

What a wonderful post Anne! If is was running my final race I’d want to do it somewhere fun, with my sister and somewhere near the ocean. I would have to take the Garmin but I’d run with only the music in my head and the voices of those around me. I would finish with a smile on my face but I know I’d have tears in my eyes too.
I’d also want to run it somewhere completely FLAT (me, I’m always practical)!

By: Jessica

Jessica — Mon, 20 Nov 2006 21:25:32 +0000

Anne,
Great deep article! I am definitely going to think about this one. ANY race could be our last race so running each one like it’s our last might be a good idea..

However, if I KNEW it would be my last race I would not listen to music. I would probably not even wear a watch – let alone a GPS one. I’d want it to be more like a “party” and share it with close friends.

By: Aaron Engelsrud

Aaron Engelsrud — Mon, 20 Nov 2006 21:01:19 +0000

Anne,

Deep indeed. Also, something I’ve given a lot of thought to lately. I recently ran the Twin Cities Marathon and while I didn’t know it at the time, it may have been my last race.

Looking back now, I’m proud of myself and the race I ran. It was considerably slower than I had planned, more painful than I had hoped, and more fun than I could have ever imagined. If this is my last race, I’m a happy man.

Thanks for giving me lots to think about!

Aaron

By: Anne

Anne — Mon, 20 Nov 2006 20:23:40 +0000

You can certainly create your own race, but isn’t that more of like your last run? To some, it may be one in the same. [And if you attempt to run on the Al-Can*, it will be -- trust me! Those trucks take out cars with one stray rock.]

By the way, Covered Bridges Half Marathon is on my “must do” list, Warren. Great suggestion for a scenic spot.

*Alaskan-Canadian highway

By: warren

warren — Mon, 20 Nov 2006 16:28:31 +0000

For a last race, I’d certainly look at doing something scenic and memorable. Races like the Covered Bridges Half Marathon or the Cabot Trail Relay Race jump to mind.

Does it have to be a race, though? An epic randonée, like may be Paris-Brest-Paris, or even just riding the Pacific Coast Highway or the Alaska Highway, might make for a memorable final event.