Come all and hear the sad tale of Team Kansas

February Run Challenge 2006

It is both a tale of warning and of woe. At ten PM last night I went to sleep after logging my 7+ miles to complete my goal, knowing that I was one of, if not the last, to finish up. My dream team of star athletes had put in some hard work and no one was going to keep us from that magical 100%, insuring us at least a tie with the dreaded and wily Canadians. Imagine, one state competing with an entire nation – the glory! My dear friend kpallen was at 64 miles as of 2-19 and literally had busted his butt to finish up with the 135 friggin miles he pledged. Clamato, who loathes training, had slogged through his 25 miles dutifully. Lara, the one non- Kansan, had fought through sickness and new job stress to complete her miles. Goodzen flew through 60 like a thoroughbred. Shawn Barr, the man with 4 kids and a bad hip, fought with undaunted courage to finish his miles. Tkelsey had run in several different states on business to finish his miles. Everything was coming together, it was in our grasp, ours for the taking, BT immortality!

I awoke this morning smug, ready to send berlinsd our sweet stats. A perfect score, the pinnacle, we had Mary-Lou-Retton-off-the-vaulted this thing. Imagine my shock and despair when flipping through my teammates final tallies. My good friend daustino, a guy I have known since Jr. High, more than half my life…. has a note in his blog……

"Sorry team, I just couldn't get in all of the remaining 8 miles... if only I was wearing a pedometer while playing basketball."

He had run 4 but not the 8 he needed to complete his goal. Oh cruel twist of fate! He had decided to shoot a little hoop, play some round-ball if you will, and failed to finish his goal. The one out of eleven who did not. Was he too busy to exercise? No! He had played more tennis and basketball in the last few days than a cross training/dressing Billie Jean King. The horror, we were finished. He had incorrectly assumed that some of the big mileage guys weren’t going to make it, so what was the big deal, let’s play some HORSE! I had told the whole team for the last week that 100% was in the bag. I threatened, cajoled, pleaded, and the team pulled together. All but one small, weak, rusty, uncaring, selfish, did I say weak, link – I speak in hyperbole only daustino is a great guy, really. I can only blame myself as coach I suppose. I hold no illusions of keeping my high paying position after this debacle.

I hope you all remember Team Kansas and the fateful Run Challenge of February ’06. It is a cautionary tale for all. My only question now is what do I tell poor sad eyed ott13979, a guy that ran 28 miles in one morning to finish his Herculean 138 miles for the month? My heart is burdened….