I'd like to share a short story about my first race, not a marathon but a local 5k for charity.
I had trained for a couple of months because previously I had zero running experience. When the big day came I felt great, prepared and happy to get started.
The course doubled back on itself; that is, runners ran to a point in the course, turned around and ran back. At the turn-around point, there was a table with little cups all over it. It was a hot day and I was looking forward to getting to the table to have a gulp of water.
I ran by, slowing only slightly to pick up a cup, and splashed it on my face and in my mouth to help me cool down.
It wasn't water.
It was Gatorade.
I ran the rest of the distance with that awful taste in my mouth, hair matted with orange goo and a lurid orange stain on my shirt.
The bees liked it though. |