October 2016

I spent October in Hawaii this year.  On the flight to Maui, I had as seatmates two young men who were going to compete in the world famous Iron Man race on the Big Island.  They were going to Maui to train for a week before the race.   They were going to swim for 2.4 miles, bicycle for 112 miles, and then run for 26.2 miles!  Needless to say, they were very fit.  It was fun to talk to them, they were so excited to do this.  I did remind them of the fate of the original marathoner, Philippides, who ran 26.2 miles from Marathon to Athens to announce that the Athenian army had defeated the Persians at the battle of Marathon.  The Athenians were anxious, because if their army had lost the Persians were coming to Athens to sack it. Philippides had fought in the battle, then was sent to run 26.2 miles to Athens to let the worried Athenians know that it would be OK.  He got to Athens, said  "Joy to you, we've won", collapsed and died.  Of course, he had fought a battle first, but these two men would swim 2.4 miles and bicycle 112 miles, which is pretty strenuous.  They assured me that they would be OK.