Total Awesomeness.....

“Don't wait until everything is just right. It will never be perfect. There will always be challenges, obstacles and less than perfect conditions. So what. Get started now. With each step you take, you will grow stronger and stronger, more and more skilled, more and more self-confident and more and more successful.”

~ Mark Victor Hansen

Life is beautiful. There are a number of times in our lives that we achieve something and feel like we are on top of the world. Whether it is a graduation or the birth of a child, the feelings of accomplishment are overwhelming. These are probably the most appropriate time to use the word awesomeness.

I have done all of my graduating and I think I am done with the kid thing, so the only thing I have that gives me the feeling of awesomeness is completing marathons. I recently finished the Vancouver marathon. I chose Vancouver because, well, I thought it would be a nice run in a beautiful town. Since it was a beautiful course and an awesome town, I thought I would document the race with pictures so that maybe you all could share in my total awesomeness.

The morning is May 4, 2008. It is a clear Sunday. A good day for running. I reach the start, my head phones in my ears. You may ask what is playing, but those of you who are familiar with my blog have already guessed it .... TOOL



I look down, and visualize the course in my mind's eye.
The horn blows. I look up as I make our way to the start line. My hand is on my watch .... the timer is started.

The weather is beautiful. A slight chill in the air. Everyone is in good spirits. The first part of the course is in the city. I pass a wheelchair racer along the way. He waves.

I come up to about mile 3. This is where I see the front runners for the only time during the race. They were moving.


We make our way through Vancouver. As with most marathons, for some reason you have to go through China town. I am not really sure why.




As we crossed one of the bridges, you can see the city amongst the mountains. Breath taking....

At mile 10, I see my family and friends cheering me on. It was nice. I got a high five from my son. Total awesomeness....

Ahhh ... water stop ... I caught this dude by surprise. The water was much appreciated though.


Ah, there is nothing like running though a park. Out of the concrete jungle and into paradise.



(ROCK HANDS IN THE AIR) The band is rocking out doing some cover songs of 80's music.


Now at this water station I did not suprise her. Look at the smile.

Ahh, looking at Vancouver from the park, what a city.

How would you like to have this gig. Hanging out in the park playing for the runners. What a view.


Ok, this woman was at about the 16 mile point. I have never seen someone having so much fun by herself. She was just high on life, I guess. The only thing that would have made this better would have been a disco ball.


And back into the city we go. We are welcomed with a 1/2 mile up hill at mile 24. Nice .....


Ok, right about now the blisters on my feet were killing me. I came to a corner and this little guy was just cheering for us. Awesomeness ....


At this point, I can smell the finish. Foot pain, quad burn ..... irrelevant. It is the finish line.


So there you have it. It was a nice time. I hope you enjoyed it. It was total awesomeness.



Ok, four cellos rocking out with the singer from slipknot is also qualifies as total awesomeness.

“Success means having the courage, the determination, and the will to become the person you believe you were meant to be”

~ George Sheehan