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The Mermaid at the Finish Line


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Six miles into last weekend's Brooklyn Half Marathon, I knew I was in trouble. Not only too little training, but I had started the race at too fast a pace. Muscles were cramping up and my left knee was already in agony. The remaining seven miles loomed on my horizon like a dark cloud. I had never dropped out of a race before... but there's a first time for everything.

 

And it was then that I had a vision. A dream. I saw mZ walking along the Coney Island boardwalk - the finish line for this race - dressed as a mermaid.

 

gallery_1000_73_1358137.jpg

 

Intellect and desire waged a brief battle in my oxygen-deprived brain. I knew the mermaid parade wasn't for another six weeks - heck, I didn't think mZ would even be awake at 9 am on a Saturday - but I was all too willing to suspend disbelief. Giving up was no longer an option. This was the time to suck it up, draw my sword, put on my game face and sally forth. Helen of Troy awaited!

 

I crossed the finish line in 2:12:30. Damn slow, but I didn't drop out. Had to ask the medics to ice my knee, but I didn't drop out. mZ wasn't parading along the boardwalk, but it no longer mattered. Thank you, little mermaid. Without you I would not have finished this race.

 

Philip (aka Speechless)

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Six miles into last weekend's Brooklyn Half Marathon, I knew I was in trouble. Not only too little training, but I had started the race at too fast a pace. Muscles were cramping up and my left knee was already in agony. The remaining seven miles loomed on my horizon like a dark cloud. I had never dropped out of a race before... but there's a first time for everything.

 

And it was then that I had a vision. A dream. I saw mZ walking along the Coney Island boardwalk - the finish line for this race - dressed as a mermaid.

 

gallery_1000_73_1358137.jpg

 

Intellect and desire waged a brief battle in my oxygen-deprived brain. I knew the mermaid parade wasn't for another six weeks - heck, I didn't think mZ would even be awake at 9 am on a Saturday - but I was all too willing to suspend disbelief. Giving up was no longer an option. This was the time to suck it up, draw my sword, put on my game face and sally forth. Helen of Troy awaited!

 

I crossed the finish line in 2:12:30. Damn slow, but I didn't drop out. Had to ask the medics to ice my knee, but I didn't drop out. mZ wasn't parading along the boardwalk, but it no longer mattered. Thank you, little mermaid. Without you I would not have finished this race.

 

Philip (aka Speechless)

 

Hurrah! What a happy ending ;)

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Six miles into last weekend's Brooklyn Half Marathon, I knew I was in trouble. Not only too little training, but I had started the race at too fast a pace. Muscles were cramping up and my left knee was already in agony. The remaining seven miles loomed on my horizon like a dark cloud. I had never dropped out of a race before... but there's a first time for everything.

 

And it was then that I had a vision. A dream. I saw mZ walking along the Coney Island boardwalk - the finish line for this race - dressed as a mermaid.

 

Intellect and desire waged a brief battle in my oxygen-deprived brain. I knew the mermaid parade wasn't for another six weeks - heck, I didn't think mZ would even be awake at 9 am on a Saturday - but I was all too willing to suspend disbelief. Giving up was no longer an option. This was the time to suck it up, draw my sword, put on my game face and sally forth. Helen of Troy awaited!

 

I crossed the finish line in 2:12:30. Damn slow, but I didn't drop out. Had to ask the medics to ice my knee, but I didn't drop out. mZ wasn't parading along the boardwalk, but it no longer mattered. Thank you, little mermaid. Without you I would not have finished this race.

 

Philip (aka Speechless)

 

Speechless,

 

Congratulations on finishing the race! You clearly had the best incentive possible.

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