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Movies => Bad Movies => Topic started by: Neon Noodle on May 22, 2004, 09:27:18 AM



Title: Wish me luck
Post by: Neon Noodle on May 22, 2004, 09:27:18 AM
This will be my last post until tomorrow afternoon.

I am participating in a Relay for Life at noon today that will keep me walking for 24 hours straight - it's an organization that raises money for further research into cancer.

 I firmly believe this is the best way to remember my sister Kirsten and to help other people I will never meet. While she won't be walking with me in the flesh, she will be with me in spirit.

See you all tomorrow....

Neon Noodle (Andrew)



Title: Re: Wish me luck
Post by: daveblackeye15 on May 22, 2004, 01:11:19 PM
Good luck man! Your sister should be proud of you for doing this as well as many others. Hey, did you ever read the book "The Long Walk"?



Title: Re: Wish me luck
Post by: Deej on May 22, 2004, 01:13:48 PM
Good luck! I'm sure it will will be nothing like "The Long Walk"...I hope.



Title: Re: Wish me luck
Post by: Ash on May 22, 2004, 03:02:11 PM
Relay for Life?

It sounds dangerous!

It sounds like the most cutthroat running/walking thing I've ever heard of.

Little old ladies and soccer moms who will stop at nothing to take you and anyone else out who might get in their way!
Guns, knives, caltrops or explosives...EVERYTHING goes!
And they'll all be wearing a pedometer that they got for free out of one of those new MacDonald's adult Happy Meals.

Mwahahaha!!!

It isn't a relay for other people's lives....IT'S FOR YOURS!

Good luck!
You'll need it!



Post Edited (05-22-04 15:03)


Title: Re: Wish me luck
Post by: Neon Noodle on May 23, 2004, 01:59:59 PM
I never knew pain like this existed - I have a new level of respect for basic training of our U.S. Troops.

Yes, I have read The Long Walk - I was hoping that I wouldn't be calling myself #47 or Garrity by the end, but a piece of that story did help me. More on that later.

I walked from 12:45pm to 6pm straight (yes, no breaks, I am truly insane). Due to the fact that there was a BLAZING sun in the sky during that time,I started getting heatstroke so I called it quits for a couple of hours. During that time I got a leg massage that revitalized me.
Around 7:45p I hit the road again, but the blisters from earlier were aching beyond any pain I have ever felt.
On the plus side, I had my cell phone and I got calls from my mother, father, 2nd sister and my 2 nephews cheering me on.
Around 10pm there was a luminaria ceremony (little paper bags lit to those who lost their lives to cancer) all around the track. One end of the bleachers (I was walking in a high school stadium) spelled out the word "HOPE" in candles.

At 11pm, I was at my wit's end. I camped out, upset at myself for not going the full 24 hours. Then I realized that my sister's spirit was probably kicking me in the a** for the last 20 minutes to take a break, so I let that one go.

I napped out in my tent with my teammates, ate some cold pizza and rehydrated myself over the course of the night. At 7:40am I hit the road again.

Due to poor planning, the organizers of the event ran out of bottled water at about 10pm the night before. It didn't help that kids were grabbing bottles and dousing each other with them. I did have a backpack with 1.5 liter capacity, so it really was a lifesaver. That and my cd player to drown out the sounds of my breathing. Crystal Method, The Who, The Daredevil and Animatrix soundtracks were my accompaniment. I also had a coworker who said if I needed anything to call him - he showed up in 20 minutes around 10am to give me a FROST Gatorade.

Anyway - I kept right on going, while other teams were stoping and taking down their tents and such. I was one of 2 people left for the last 15 minutes of the walk.

When it hit exactly 12 noon, there was absolutely no one left on the field but me I was ready to walk off the field, but here's where the Long Walk helped me out. I looked at the track in front of me, and I remembered the last line from that short story - "And from somewhere, he found the strength to run."

I ran a full out sprint around the track one last time for Kirsten - she was a hurdler in high school. I never felt more complete than at that moment.

Total amount of money raised for the event: $127,000.00
Total time walking: 12 hours
Best lap time around the track: 5 minutes
1 lap = 1/4 of a mile
1 hour = 3 miles
12 hours of walking = 36 miles

I know that isn't exact since I slowed down in spots, but it's still pretty good.

This was for you, Kirsten. I miss you.



Post Edited (05-23-04 14:06)


Title: Re: Wish me luck
Post by: daveblackeye15 on May 23, 2004, 03:03:33 PM
That was a awesome thing to do man. Good job! Now I want to do this myself, my dad also died from cancer a few years ago and if something like this happens in my city then I want to do it to help others like him and your sister. "and he found the strength to run"



Title: Re: Wish me luck
Post by: dean on May 24, 2004, 03:53:25 AM

Congrats on your efforts, it truly is a real challenge to do that sorta thing.  Me and some friends did a really big bike ride a few months ago, it wasn't specifically for cancer, more about youth help and that sorta thing, but it went for a week.
The weather alone was enough to drive you nuts; cold, rain, then really hot.  But at least we could sit down on the downhill stretches!

And the Crytsal Method and the Animatrix OST got me through that as well!  Great choices [I actually just got Legion of Boom today, coincidentally]

I'm sure your sister was proud of you.  A fitting tribute.