Be that guy…

It seemed like a good idea at the time.  Back in 2004, I signed up to run the Dublin Marathon.

I trained well, but I knew the race would be a challenge. For those who know me, this isn’t a shocking revelation. I’m built for…well, certainly not marathons.

On race day, I came down with a cold. Cold medicine is a no-no if you’re running a race, so all I could take was aspirin.

After starting the race, adrenaline kicked in and the first 16 miles flew by. But the cold started wearing me down, as did the running. Not to mention the fact that every race supporter called me “big guy!” 

On mile 21, I hit the wall. Not only did I hit it, but then the wall tipped over on me. I remember saying to myself – there’s no way I’m finishing this race. I started rationalizing how it wouldn’t be a big deal to stop.

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