New Mexico Half Marathon, Albuquerque, New Mexico, August 31, 2008

Race Number 22. State Number 4 (21 states to go).

Editor’s advice: To really "enjoy" this piece, you HAVE to have the tune and tempo of the song, "Imagine" by John Lennon playing in your head.

Title of Song: Imagine You’re a Marathoner (written by Yoko Ono for Mikie Marathoner)

"Imagine there's not enough water
It's easy if you try
Plenty of cloud cover above us
Covering the New Mexico sky
Imagine all the runners
Running down the hill... who, whoo-oooo

(Chorus)
You may say I'm a whiner
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll run with me
And the world will suffer as one.

Imagine there's not enough oxygen
It isn't hard to do
Especially when you’re on a plateau
In thin air, at altitude
Imagine all the runners
Wheezing along the trail...who, whoo-oooo

(Chorus)
You may say I'm a whiner
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll run with me
And the world will suffer as one.

Imagine you have paralyzing thigh pain
I wonder if you can
Extreme need for a porta-potty
A brotherhood of bladder pain
Imagine all the runners
Sharing all the “fun”...who, whoo-oooo

(Chorus)
You may say I'm a whiner
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll run with me
And the world will suffer as one.

Imagine you are developing a head cold,
It isn't hard to do,
Trying to run a fast time,
And getting frustrated too,
Imagine all the fast runners
Passing Mike like he's standing still.......who, whoo-oooo

(Chorus)
You may say I'm a whiner
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll run with me
And the world will suffer as one."

------------------------------------------------
Ok, Yoko really did not write this for me, but you bet she wish she had. Then she would get the royalty checks when it hits the charts in September.

Time: 2:19:24. Slower time again, but I finished with a developing head cold (the pesky bug took over my body once I finished the race-I am a sick puppy) and burning thighs. Yet, I finally got another state under my belt. “Only” twenty-one states and 78 marathons to go!

Prayer List: Samuel Garcia and Lynn Smith, both former students, were both diagnosed with Type I Diabetes this last week (I prayed for them on miles 1-3 & 4-6, respectively). Jerry Hollis (former Literature teacher at JA) and Cindy Rontanini (present Kindergarten teaching assistant at JA) have been battling cancer and are succeeding! Miles 7-9 were dedicated to Jerry and miles 10-13 were Cindy's! Healing to the all of you! I am not sure many of us could have the same attitudes the four of you have had through your ordeals.