‘Ready, ready, ready to run’

NICK PITTS ASST SPORTS EDITOR

NDP722@CABRINI EDU

It is hell. It is glory. It is pure torture and yet, the ultimate achievement. It all started with death, a celebrated death.

According to legend, in 490 B.C. when the Greeks defeated the Persians in a certain battle, a messenger by the name of Pheidippides was needed to spread the news of the triumph. That night the messenger left the battle grounds and headed for his home city. He ran a total of 26.2 miles back to Athens, but was close to death when he arrived. In his last gasping breath he declared, “Victory!” right before he perished.

The battlegrounds that he started from just happened to be named Marathon, Greece.

I regard the marathon just as mythical as the story of its origin portrays it to be. Of course, mine was in Austin, Texas and not a city from ancient times.

Now that I think about it, I imagine he ran it either barefoot, or in some kind of sandals and a robe. I on the other hand was properly equipped.

The runners seemed to have come from out of the woodwork on that fateful Sunday morning. As we walked outside in the dark and chilly city, so did 5,000 or so other combatants, prepared to go to war against the streets of Austin, against the race clock, but not against each other.

Unlike any other sport in existence, marathoners are soldiers on the same side, fighting fatigue. We are never out to get each other, but rather to help one another out and lift spirits when a fellow soldier is down and out.

With the sound of a canon, and a beautiful array of fireworks, the great race began. My partner and I ran as the sun rose, to the sounds of Austin-inspired music. We both felt incredible as we finished the first half of the run with ease, already planning out right ahead and even possible future marathons.

What a big mistake.

Although I already had one under my belt, the absolute worst thing to do is go in being overly confident. This time around the main thing I learned is that just when

Intramurals:

LIZ GARRETT ASST NEWS EDITOR EGG722@CABRINI EDU

Orlin Jespersen is the staff person in charge of planning and organizing all of Cabrini’s recreational activities both inside and outside of the Dixon Center. Jespersen’s primary responsibility is to promote and encourage student involvement in club sports and in intramurals. Prior to being hired at Cabrini Jespersen worked as a volleyball coach, wanting nothing more than to contribute to the development of club sports.

In the fall of 2004, Cabrini was offering the perfect position, and so he took the opportunity. Working as the assistant director of recreation was new to Jespersen and he was determined to mold the programs into his own ideas.

For Cabrini, having this new staff member has led to the option of several more outdoor activities to choose from such