Thanks to you, we accomplished the two main goals we had set: raise at least $5000 for the important cause of blood cancer research, and to each complete the full marathon.

First, we applaud you;  your generosity will make a real difference in the lives of people fighting blood cancers.  Thank you so much.  It makes us feel good to have helped, and should make you feel good too.

As for the run, OK, we can say it….old man Shapiro and his young cohorts may have bitten off more than they could chew!  We can say one thing with certainty….26.2 miles is a long damn way!

We started with a pasta dinner the night before to carbo load, then arrived at the starting line with unbridled enthusiasm for the upcoming “run”.   But, starting at about the six mile mark, my left foot started to ache.  A mile later my right hip flexor was talking to me, then the ball of my right foot started saying nasty things.  And that’s how things went.  After each mile, the three of us would list the three things hurting the most at that time.  The list changed as different body parts began to fail, sometimes simultaneously!

And, we think someone was playing a trick on us those last few miles, because the mile markers seemed to get farther and farther apart.  Due to insufficient training and some serious pains, we were relegated to walking most of the second half of the race. So, while we didn’t set any speed records, we did run together, stay together, and finish together .

Thank you again.  You’re heroes to the people you have helped.

Gary, Robert, and Allison

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