Thanks for sponsoring Raj Gilda for San Diego Marathon (June 6, 2005)

Dear Friends,

I am happy to share with you that I did cross the finish line at the San Diego Marathon. I took 19,732 seconds (5 Hrs and 28 Mnts – I was just trying, not to give you sense of how long I really took – just in case you are wondering- no, I was not the last person to finish – there were 4,787 people behind me).

First of all, thank you so much to over 100 people who sponsored me for our charity Lend-A-Hand India (it is never too late if you still want to donate to our charity – just go to http://www.lend-a-hand-india.org/SanDiego_Marathon_2004.htm). Sincere thanks to those who called me during and after the marathon, my colleagues and friends for encouraging me through out the training and not get bored with my horror stories from the training runs (or, if they did, never let it show) and my better half– for living through all those early mornings and lost weekends.

Adding to the excitement of the marathon, just a week before the marathon, I was hit with an acute muscle spasm in my lower back and for the first time I felt that I might not be able to run. But with treatment from wonderful Dr.Varlotta, physical therapist Joel and with encouragement from my colleagues and friends, I was ready to “rock and roll”!!!

All my apprehension whether I would finish or not, disappeared as I stood among the 16,000 participants at 6.30 am in the lush green Balboa Park in the heart of San Diego. After having a quick bite of banana and bagel and some coffee, I was ready to take off. This was my first visit to San Diego and what can be better way to see San Diego than on feet (for free!!!) I pretty much made thru till mile 20 smoothly (I wish I can say without a sweat…) but as they say, second half of the marathon begins at mile 20 which is so true …I completely ran out of energy by mile 23 but cheering by my friend, Gaurang who ran last few miles with me, small kids doing “hi-five”, friends calling me from all over US, me mentally humming the song “every breath you take, every move you make” and the satisfaction that each step I took, was taking me closer to make a difference in the life of under-privileged children in India – I made it to the finish line.

What next? - May be the marathon on the Great Wall of China or Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe as my dream is to run a marathon in each of the seven continents, but for now, I am happy that for next few months to come - I don't have to eat bananas and bagels, drink seemingly endless bottles of Gatorade and get up at 5.30 am to run :- )

Finally, as someone has said...

"What is at the summit of courage, I think, is freedom. The freedom that comes with the knowledge that no earthly power can break you; that an unbroken spirit is the only thing you can't live without...."

Thank you,

Raj

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