Marathon Medal

[Mark Wagner]

This is right after the Royal Victoria Marathon. Around me is the World Vision staff, and myself with the finishers medal.

 

[Mark Wagner]

Almost their! Man it hurts so good!

 

[Mark Wagner]

What you see on the clock is the gun time. My actual chip time was 4 hours 47 minutes 31 seconds. With so many runners, that difference is how long it took to cross the start line at the beginning of the marathon.

 

[hensylee]

Mark, that is just awesome. You don't even look tired - tho on another day and in another post you described your pain (bone on bone) and you look like a WINNER to me! Congratulations. You are such an inspiration, including your running.

 

[Ross]

Actually I was expecting the weight of the medal around your neck to drop you like a rock. You know me bud, gotta jokingly pick on ya to let you know I care.

How many people ran the marathon anyway? I gave up looking after page 3.

 

[Mark Wagner]

Hello Ross,
I would guess around 6500 started. Out of that their were 3680 half marathon finishers and 2681 marathon finishers. It is hard to really say how many started and did not finish. At around the 8 or 9 mile mark of the marathon, the half marathoners veered off to the left. Their also was an 8K earlier, so around 8 or 9 thousand runners converged on Victoria. Every hotel in the city was booked. On top of the marathon, it was Canada's Thanksgiving on Monday. Whew ... lots of people.

 

[Ross]

I can't even begin to imagine that many people in a small area much less running. You look unbelievably well and fit. Knowing what troubles you've been faced with in the past, I'd say you look darn good. Wish I did. All the muscle tone I once had is gone. I'm starting to feel like stickboy again. Pictures don't reveal it that way, but that's how I feel compared to 3 years ago.

 

[Mark Wagner]

Well in your picture you look like the 'PURPLE PEOPLE EATER!'

 

[Ross]

Well......I couldn't find a really great one for Halloween, so why not use the front of an album cover?

 

[Nancy]

Hi Mark-

That's terrific. You look like the picture of health!

 

[Jan]

Hi Mark

Well done !!!

You are an inspiration to us all

and a great ambassador for VR .com


Jan

 

[sylviayasgur]

hi mark!
congratulations on your medal!!! you are incredible!! we are so proud of you and your runs and accomplishments...
i couldn't have hand-picked a better representative for valvers!!!
keep it up and feel well.
all the best, sylvia

 

[bvdr]

Congratulations Mark for a job well done!

 

[Simon Gee]

good on you

good on you

Hi Mark,

congratulations on another great finish. I'm entered for the London marathon next April and am just getting back into training again - completed it in 2001 six months after my AVR. I'm looking to better my 5½ hour time in 2004.

Talking of numbers, London has around 35,000 starters, so you can imagine what it's like at the start!!

Well done again,

Simon

 

[hensylee]

Simon, we're rootin for you. Run for those of us who can't. Please let us know how it goes - nice to see you.

Mark, every time I check in here and see your pix I get goose bumps all over again. Such great happiness showing through those.

 

[Ross]

Mark, every time I check in here and see your pix I get goose bumps all over again.

Mark I think your making Hensylee feel all school girl silly again. You really do look great and I'm jealous.

 

[M&M]

Hey Mark - that is just AWESOME - CONGRATULATIONS - The pictures are just fantastic. You look like you just finished a 5k. You are truly looking fit as a fiddle - to say the least.

I know how hard physically it is to do a half marathon - I can't imagine finishing a full one.

YOU are such an inspiration to me and I'm sure to mention you to my cardiologist - Thank You for sharing the pictures..

Runner

 

[Mark Wagner]

More pictures my Mom sent of marathon and vacation.

More pictures my Mom sent of marathon and vacation.

Messed this first one up! Keep looking below! (I'm still learning.)

 

[Mark Wagner]

Another marathon medal shot. If you look you will see that the lady on the right is wearing a medal also. She ran the half-marathon and finished earlier; and she will also be running the full marathon in Dublin, in a couple of weeks.

 

[Mark Wagner]

Ruby Beach, (Pacific Ocean) Washington State.