Charlene and I discussed our game plan prior to the start. We learned when we got to Greece that in order to receive an official medal we had to complete within 8 hrs. That was a little faster than we had planned to do but we felt if we pushed it, it was not impossible so decided to go for it. We also learned upon arriving that the course was much harder than most. 10 km of flat surface at the start and then the hill. All 21 km of it. Yep. that's not a typo. 21 km uphill. We'd crest a few times but not once in all that distance did we actually go downhill. You see. Greece is very mountainous.. Who knew ?

So as the Roosters crowed in the background we started our walk with about 20 other Canadians and 50 others walkers from around the world. We started a little celebration at km 1. A whoop and holler and a high five kinda thing. Took most of the race to get it right
We set a steady pace and kept it going as we hit the hill. 2 hr and 37 mins into it the elite runners passed us. The winner was in this group. A Kenyan . He finished the marathon is 2:15 I think. Show off ! That was a pretty amazing thing to see. A helicopter followed from above with several police cars and motorcycles leading the way. As the runners passed we got a lot of encouragement especially from our fellow Jimmer's. Along the way we met our new friend Fran, originally from California and now living in France. We walked most of the rest of the way with Fran . The hill was... well it sucked.. At one point I got totally ticked off and just stared at the horizon of the hill and started a mantra in my head. Each syllable was a step. ' Un-Der-Eight...Un-Der-Eight. The weather was almost perfect. nice, but overcast. It showered a little which made the road a bit slippery. The Greek people cheered us on calling Bravo, Bravo, Go Canada... ( We had temporary tattoo's to show we were Canadian's). Skip ahead 5 hrs and we are still going uphill. Charlene, was silly and goofy... thank god she had energy to spare. She kept both Fran and I going. I however was pretty quiet as I continued to concentrate on breathing and fueling properly to allow me to beat the god forsaken hill. Chris, the team trainer from Manitoba, joined us from Km 25 to 30... then finally at km 31 we crested the hill . It was sweet but we had no time to celebrate. We knew our time was running short. We'd been walking for about 6hrs at this point. That left 2 to finish the last 12 km's. At home I can do 6. 5 in an hour but after walking for 6 hrs already I wasn't sure I could keep the pace to make it. I was tired.. of course. but I wasn't feeling much pain. I just knew I had only so much energy to expend and had to use it wisely.

At Km 36 Char looked at me and I nodded. We had to run it if we were going to make it. We had to leave our new Friend Fran at that point. She was suffering with leg pain ad could not run. We had not trained to run and this body was not built for it but I thought I'd come this far. I was was not going to let that goal slide away for lack of effort now. So I gave it a shot. Unfortunately my running was barely allowing for any headway. It just served to wind me more. At Km 37 we saw our trainer from Halifax, Barb and another team mate Avila coming back for us. They were our angels. As they got close enough I yelled to Barb. "Can we do it. can we do it in 8? " She said Yes, it's doable but it will be close. No more running for you. Don't talk.. just breath and walk." Avila took my fanny pack and the two of them walked us in . I somehow missed Km 38 sign and feeling quite dejected started to think ... no way.. it can't be done. then I saw km 39 sign. "What happened to 38 ? " I said. They laughed and that was it. That was when I said Yes. 3 more km, I can do it... there is time!

We continued on towards our final destination. The Original Olympic stadium. The ironic part of it was that the race was a bit short on distance so we had to actually go past it a few hundred yards and then turn around and come back. That sucked so bad. As we turned the corner and headed back to the Stadium we saw our new friends. Fran's husband actually joined her and she got her second wind and they passed us. I knew my family and many of the Jimmers were waiting for the rest of us to finish . But the time.. oh the time on the clock.. it was not good. We were headed back to the stadium with less than two minutes. Two minutes to get back to stadium enter and run down to the finish line at the other end. Oh God. 2 mins. That's nothing but I could not not give up. Charlene refused to leave me behind and I could not let her down. We hit the steps of the stadium and looked right to Avila and Said.' F--K it, I'm running it " (Sorry Mom but yes that's what I said.) We ran up the 3 stairs and Charlene grabbed my hand and we ran. I had no idea at that point what was going on. My head was down. all I could feel was her hand in mine and her saying "We are there.. we are so there.". over and over . I almost lost it at that point and started crying but I sucked it up and ran on.. finally reaching the finish line after which I came to an abrupt halt, bent over with hand on knees and sucked in as much air as my burning lungs could take. Paul, the tour company owner ran to me to see if I was ok. I nodded and then I heard it....over the loud speaker... ' Ladies and Gentlemen... the race is now closed"

We made it. Can you believe that !... I jumped what seemed like feet into the air (I'm sure it was only inches) and yelled something totally incoherent.. I think it was like a war cry.. We did it. We made it. I looked up and there was my Aunt Iris and my two cousin's Deanne and Derek running to us. Iris was in tears... so was I ... Apparently as we entered the stadium all the people that were still there waiting for the last runners and the people working on the race were cheering us on, waving their arms. yelling "Go Go .. run run go !" They knew we were trying to beat the clock. I had no idea that was going on. I wish I had been able to look up and see it.
The other Jimmers were there too. Some of them in tears . What an amazing moment... I'm tearing up just thinking about it again. 7 hrs 59 minutes and 22 secs was the official time . We were the last two people to cross the line at the 25th Athens Marathon before they stopped the clock. We beat the hill. We beat the weather and we beat the clock.

After a few minutes someone said "Go. go get your medals !" so we proudly walked over and received our medals and then proceeded to walk around the track singing "We are the champions". Out of tune of course who who cares after 8 hrs. Two girls from Spryfield having the time of their lives at the Olympic stadium in our first Full marathon... How cool was that !

Thank you Joints in Motion for this incredible opportunity and thank to everyone that helped us get here. And thanks most of all to my friend of 35 years, Charlene. I could not have done it without you girlfriend !
 

R. Umlah,  Brookside, NS, June 2008