Speech #4 – HOW to say it
The path to the finish line (06-19-2017)
The path ahead of me stretches for miles and miles. I have only covered a tiny fraction. The beginning of races and adventures calling for nature and social interaction.
Fellow Toastmasters and Guests,
Grad School showed me not only a new path in my personal and professional life, but a desire for challenges and opportunities.
Sunny late September, temperature in the 50's, runners in the streets, hundreds of volunteers, food and water exchange, music, clapping and noises everywhere, a vibrant atmosphere. Everything combined to depict the development of a race, and to be more specific: The Akron Marathon in 2009. I could not stop clapping and shouting for runners passing by. How can someone dare to run 26.2 miles?
I never ran before and yet I was inspired by those runners in the street looking for the finish line. I have time, I said to myself. I will devote 6 months to prepare and conquer.
Longer days, melted snow, blossoming trees, the end of winter was close. No more excuses, March was the beginning of my training with zero expertise and just a desire for completing a marathon. My training schedule was simple: 2 days a week, gym, cardio and 10 minutes running around the track. I would concentrate on my pace and I was hoping that the shoes I bought online promised the outcome that I had in mind.
Running after school seemed to be the best scenario, even though I knew that early mornings would feed my spirit, clear my mind and fuel my day. The longest distance I covered was 9 miles and I was very excited to take on this challenge.
The National Anthem was playing, thousands of runners stretching, and the sound of the bell indicated the beginning of 26.2 miles of pain. Little did I know about logistics and the group of 12-minute pacemakers. I followed the group and stayed close, but after 8 miles, muscle cramps, sore legs, fatigue, thirst, and sticky hands from Gu energy gels showed me the beauty of running marathons.
Everyone was very supportive; I stopped once to stretch my legs and one more time to get water and Gatorade. Reaching mile 22 marked the beginning of my decline, I made it this far, and I needed a break by walking a mile. Far in the horizon, downtown Akron was waiting for my arrival and I could only notice fewer runners by my side and many more carrying a medal while coming back. I gave it all in the last mile – home stretch was finally here Veni, Vici, Vidi (I came, I saw, I conquered).
Arriving to the finish line was a relief. Especially after 5 hours and 30 minutes after departing. I shook hands with the director of the race; and before leaving I had to claim my medal, take a photograph, and receive other freebies including two cans of beer, a bagel, a banana and a massage.
At this point, you should be asking how I was feeling and to tell you the truth: “I survived to tell this story”.
All things considered, running has been one of the most rewarding experiences during Grad School. I convinced my friends to run along, for miles, hours, covering paths, trails, experiencing parks, nature, and getting inspired. My running career accumulates 2 relays, 3 half marathons, many 5Ks, a 10K, and an injury that made me master the use of crutches. Very soon a 200-mile relay from Spokane to Sandpoint is my new challenge.
The path ahead of me stretches for miles and miles. I have only covered a tiny fraction, and yet I have learnt so much. I learnt that no matter where and how, running frees my mind, and it makes me feel and see the world from a different perspective.
Alvaro R.
The path ahead of me stretches for miles and miles. I have only covered a tiny fraction. The beginning of races and adventures calling for nature and social interaction.
Fellow Toastmasters and Guests,
Grad School showed me not only a new path in my personal and professional life, but a desire for challenges and opportunities.
Sunny late September, temperature in the 50's, runners in the streets, hundreds of volunteers, food and water exchange, music, clapping and noises everywhere, a vibrant atmosphere. Everything combined to depict the development of a race, and to be more specific: The Akron Marathon in 2009. I could not stop clapping and shouting for runners passing by. How can someone dare to run 26.2 miles?
I never ran before and yet I was inspired by those runners in the street looking for the finish line. I have time, I said to myself. I will devote 6 months to prepare and conquer.
Longer days, melted snow, blossoming trees, the end of winter was close. No more excuses, March was the beginning of my training with zero expertise and just a desire for completing a marathon. My training schedule was simple: 2 days a week, gym, cardio and 10 minutes running around the track. I would concentrate on my pace and I was hoping that the shoes I bought online promised the outcome that I had in mind.
Running after school seemed to be the best scenario, even though I knew that early mornings would feed my spirit, clear my mind and fuel my day. The longest distance I covered was 9 miles and I was very excited to take on this challenge.
The National Anthem was playing, thousands of runners stretching, and the sound of the bell indicated the beginning of 26.2 miles of pain. Little did I know about logistics and the group of 12-minute pacemakers. I followed the group and stayed close, but after 8 miles, muscle cramps, sore legs, fatigue, thirst, and sticky hands from Gu energy gels showed me the beauty of running marathons.
Everyone was very supportive; I stopped once to stretch my legs and one more time to get water and Gatorade. Reaching mile 22 marked the beginning of my decline, I made it this far, and I needed a break by walking a mile. Far in the horizon, downtown Akron was waiting for my arrival and I could only notice fewer runners by my side and many more carrying a medal while coming back. I gave it all in the last mile – home stretch was finally here Veni, Vici, Vidi (I came, I saw, I conquered).
Arriving to the finish line was a relief. Especially after 5 hours and 30 minutes after departing. I shook hands with the director of the race; and before leaving I had to claim my medal, take a photograph, and receive other freebies including two cans of beer, a bagel, a banana and a massage.
At this point, you should be asking how I was feeling and to tell you the truth: “I survived to tell this story”.
All things considered, running has been one of the most rewarding experiences during Grad School. I convinced my friends to run along, for miles, hours, covering paths, trails, experiencing parks, nature, and getting inspired. My running career accumulates 2 relays, 3 half marathons, many 5Ks, a 10K, and an injury that made me master the use of crutches. Very soon a 200-mile relay from Spokane to Sandpoint is my new challenge.
The path ahead of me stretches for miles and miles. I have only covered a tiny fraction, and yet I have learnt so much. I learnt that no matter where and how, running frees my mind, and it makes me feel and see the world from a different perspective.
Alvaro R.