Two Huge Races

The New York Marathon was run last weekend. What a gruelling race! Can you imagine running for that far and for that long? The winner was fast – with a time just over 2 hours. The other end of the pack were winners as well but they took much longer – and with at least two major losers – they died.

Police said Brazilian Carlos Jose Gomes, 58, had just crossed the finish line, in a time of 4 hours 12 minutes, when he felt ill. He was taken by Ambulance to the hospital and died soon after, the Associated Press reported.

Spokesman for New York Runners Richard Finn said the other man died several hours later. No further details were given.

Last Sunday about 37,000 people ran 27 miles in NYC. In order to be part of this gigantic race you place your name in to be possibly drawn – only 37,000 are allowed into the race. It is kind of like a lottery system or sorts. Not everyone that applies gets in. And the really good runners, people that are known to possibly do well or that have run the race in good time before – are given a 35 minute head start away from the other 37,000 people.

The maximum time that anyone can take is 8 and ½ hours after the 10:10 AM start.

Now add to that there are about another 2 to 3 Million People watching the race throughout the city – it is amazing.

It costs to race. What does it take to conduct this race and run in this race…? One writer said, “it takes passion, dogged determination, faith, and the embrace of an entire city and its agencies to stage the largest and most famous marathon in the world.”

There are just 361 days 02h 10m 13s according to the TIMEX Countdown to the Start of next years race – when I checked just now.

Oddly enough another marathon was completed yesterday – just two days after the NYC Marathon. It has lasted longer than 2 to 8 ½ hour.. it has been years. The USA’s election is now over and a new person has been elected. President-elect Barack Obama now takes the first ever position in a brand new day in the USA and even the world.

Yes last night we watched a good deal of the race on TV and on the Internet along with millions upon millions watching with us. More than 55 million viewers tuned in for 2004's election night coverage. It's a safe bet that number will be dwarfed by the 2008 ratings.

One thing that we see is that every race has a winner and every race has people that came in next. But in the end everyone is a winner… each person that was running on Sunday won something personally because they took part. Everyone that voted in the states won because they took part. And in the USA’s case – it may have been the highest turn out ever with it being perhaps the most popular election ever.

Through it all the good vibrations were everywhere.

The TV Cameras last evening caught glimpses of famous people standing close to the stage where Mr. Obama was speaking. In that audience I saw Jessie Jackson, Oprah Winfrey and many other very much larger than life people. They were crying. There were whites mixed with blacks standing together. When President-elect Barack Obama gave his powerful speech he touched everyone.

When he mentioned in his speech that another man had come from this state(Illinois) and the same party to be elected as President, I choked up. WOW what a statement! What a moment. One of the things that Abraham Lincoln died for was the idea that people of colour should not be treated as slaves… they were to be equal like the rest of us. Now the first African American was now their new President to be… WOW!

What does that have to do with me? Well I am related to that Illinois elected President that Mr. Obama spoke about. Kind of hits home after all these years of personally following the stories. And the fact that I lived through the hatred and bigotry era has a powerful impact on me as well.

How could anyone treat another person the way they did in the southern states – and then get up on Sundays and sing “Amazing Grace”?

I didn’t run in the NYC Marathon and I didn’t vote yesterday for Mr. Obama or Mr. McCain… but I took part by watching.

Now today I turn to my main role of prayer. I am praying for these two leaders to the south of us. And I am praying for my own leaders in Ottawa and across Ontario as they lead our governments at home. Then I have added the local political leaders that I know much better.

I think I need to sit down and rest… it has been a long four days of watching. Whew! I need to savour this and let it settle in me. I was part of history and it feels good!

For what it is worth – all the way from Canada - Oh yes – Congratulations to Senator Barack Obama, Senator John McCain, Runner Paula Radcliffe of Britain and Runner Marilson Gomes dos Santos of Brazil… you all ran amazing races!

~ Murray Lincoln ~

Sources:
http://www.nyrr.org/
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4749617a1823.html
http://www.ingnycmarathon.org/photo_history/22.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NYC_Marathon
http://www.nycmarathon.org/home/index.php
http://www.nycmarathon.org/whatdoesittake/index.php
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4749617a1823.html