And so it begins...

A good friend of mine once told me, "if you want to experience big things, first you gotta dream big things".


Three years ago I was recovering from surgery to re-attach my ruptured Achilles tendon.  While perusing a website with links to various marathon and half-marathon races around the world, I stumbled across the Great Wall Marathon.  After looking at some of the pictures on the site and viewing a few youtube videos, I was hooked.  I knew I had to do this race!

Maybe it was the physical challenge.  I have done more than 30 half marathons and one full marathon, but this race......this is going to be something completely different from anything I have done to date.  The part of the race that takes place on the wall looks to be the ultimate stair-stepping workout. 

Maybe it was the allure of a far away place and a sense of adventure.  I like the idea of throwing myself into a different culture and absorbing everything around you ..... immersing yourself in the sights, the sounds, the language, the customs, the cuisine, the architecture.....everything!  We hear about China so much in the media and their growing economy, and how they are now a major player in the global economy.  In my work, we are always following the Chinese economy and its impact to U.S. exports of timber and other agricultural products here in the Pacific Northwest.  This will be an opportunity to experience it for myself.  To see Beijing, to see rural villages, and to see everyday people going about their daily lives.  I will get to experience it firsthand and maybe dispel some myths along the way.

Maybe I'm just a little crazy to think I could actually go there and do this.  At the time I decided I wanted to do this race, I could barely run.  The muscles in my left leg had atrophied during the eleven weeks I spent on crutches and my knee scooter.  I ran with a hitch in my stride as I struggled to push off with my weak leg to match the stride length of my strong leg.  Over time, my leg strengthened and I could run normally again, eventually increasing my pace and stretching out over longer distances.  After completing the Los Angeles Marathon last year, I knew it was time to get serious about doing the Great Wall.  So, last fall I signed up for the race and tour.  But this is not a solo effort.  My oldest son, Sam, is going with me.  He has completed a couple marathons and a few half marathons in recent years, so he eagerly said "yes" when I asked him to join me.   



So that's the back story.  Let's move forward to the here and now.  It's time to go! This evening I will fly to Seattle to meet up with Sam when he arrives from Los Angeles.  In the morning, we will board Air Canada for a short hop to Vancouver, BC and then a non-stop to Beijing, arriving mid-day on Wednesday after crossing the international date line.

I will try to post regularly while in China, with links via Facebook, but there may be restrictions and filters that will prevent my posts from getting through.  If that's the case, I will post everything upon our return.  I look forward to sharing my experiences with you.