Monday, August 23, 2004

The agony of defeat

Tearful Radcliffe has no explanation

Kris and I watched the women's Olympic marathon Sunday. Well, I only saw bits and pieces of it, but Kris was glued to it since she is currently training to run her first marathon in October.

Anyway, we were both stunned by what happened to Paula Radcliffe of the U.K. She's the world marathon record holder and was the favorite in yesterday's race, but she couldn't even finish. She wound up sitting and crying on the curb on the side of the road, watching the other runners and her Olympic dreams pass her by.

I can't imagine the devastation of training for something of that magnitude and then not even finishing. Words can't describe it -- it's beyond "sucks."

Of course, this made Kris a little nervous about what might happen during her marathon. I reminded her that she is trying to complete a marathon, Radcliffe was trying to win one -- big difference. Not to mention, Kris won't be running in 90-plus degree weather.

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