The reason I decided to run my first MMTR came about in a very unusual
way.  Last summer I was a 220 pound couch potato who could run about
100 yards before having to stop to catch my breath. I was just getting
ready to go to J.C. Penneys to buy my first pair of size 40 pants because
my 38's were bursting at the seams.(literally). It was then that
I decided I was not going to live like this any more. The very next
day I went on a diet and started jogging. With a combination of walking
and jogging I finally got to where I could jog 3 miles without walking,
and within 6-8 months I was 50 pounds lighter. I felt great!
My wife and kids were proud of me.
I have 3 teenage children, and raising teenagers in this day and age
is a real challenge. I always stress to my kids that they can do
anything and be anything they want to if they only TRY!; "If you don't
try it, you can't do it" and "CAN'T never did anything!"
are my favorite sayings to motivate them. So, about four weeks
before the MMRT my oldest son came in with an information sheet and application
form for the MMRT, and gave it to me.; In my mind I was thinking,
"50 miles!!!; There's no way!!!; Are you crazy??!!!; Who do you think I
am, Superman?!!."
My son didn't say anything, and when I looked into his face all I could
hear in my mind was me telling him "You can do anything if you just TRY."
and "CAN'T never did anything." Five minutes later I was sitting
at the kitchen table filling out the application form. I figured
if I look at the race as a bunch of 3 mile jogs I might just do alright.
So that's what I did. When I got to one aid station, I just focused
on getting to the next.; My son drove to Lynchburg with me and met
me at as many aid stations that he had access to. It was a real bonding
experience between us. I pulled something in my left knee and withdrew
myself at aid station #8. (I couldn't believe I made it so far, 22.3miles!)
It was a win-win situation for everyone! I ran a personal best in
distance, and my kids got a real-life lesson that if you try, you CAN do
anything you want.
Thanks, Mr. Horton for putting on a real class-act race.; Everyone
there was so nice to us.
P.S. I've got the ultra-bug now. I'll be getting ready for
next years race. Thanks for introducing me to the world of ultrarunning.

Your friend,
Joseph Haban