Over the next 11 months I will use my weekly Blog to:
- Answer questions that my readers have asked me about my 14 years of running marathons around the world.
- Update my readers on the status of the 14-year commitments that I made in 1999.
- Let my readers know “What’s next for Bob Rebello – 2013 and beyond”.
Today’s Blog will focus on 1 question and an update on the status of my 14-year commitments. The question that I will address is one that most marathon runners always remember and that is “what was the worst weather that you ran a marathon in?”.
The marathon that had the worst weather for me was the September 30, 2000 Dublin marathon, my 2nd worldwide marathon. If you have ever been to Dublin, Ireland in September you know that the weather will either be cold, or rain, or windy. The weather on marathon day was a combination of all of the elements – heavy rain, very cold with 30 mph winds throughout the race. The weather for the race was so bad that the local Dublin newspaper reported the day after the race that the marathon had the worst weather in the 21 years of the marathon. They went so far as to call the September 30, 2000 marathon “the marathon of suffering” because of the terrible weather.
To make matters worse the day before the race I had a temperature and did not feel well with a number of aches and pains. At the start of the race I had to stand in the cold, wind and heavy rain for about 30 minutes before the race started. By the time I reached mile 3’s water station the rain was coming down very hard and it was very windy and cold. We were given 20 ounce plastic water bottles at the station and it took me quite a while to open the bottle because my hands were very cold and I had gloves on. Miles 9 to 19 were flat with no rolling hills with hardly any people cheering you on as the weather went from bad to worse keeping everyone indoors. When I finally crossed the finish line just about every bone in my body ached and I was starting to get a sore throat. It took about an hour to get back to the hotel because it was very painful walking after running the marathon in the rain, wind, and cold. The next day I was quite sick with a sore throat, high temperature, and many aches and pains. The flight home was the worst flight I had ever taken. I had a constant headache, every bone in my body was aching, and I had trouble eating any solid foods. When I got home I was still very sick and decided to call my doctor who told me that I had Pneumonia and more than likely I had it while I was running the marathon.
Me during 10/30/2000 Dublin marathon
BOB REBELLO’s 14-YEAR COMMITMENTS AND STATUS [05/23/1999 to 12/31/2012]
1. Commitment: To raise $100,000.00 for kidney cancer research in memory of my brother John.
Status: Raised $83,905.00 – I only need $16,095.00 to meet my commitment.2. Commitment: To ensure that 100% of all donations go directly to kidney cancer research.
Status: COMPLETE – The $83,905.00 raised went directly to kidney cancer research as I
paid all of the expenses. [Air, Hotel, Stamps, Printing, Photos, etc.]3. Commitment: To bring worldwide awareness about kidney cancer.
Status: COMPLETE – I brought worldwide awareness about kidney cancer through my travels
and my website that has had 5,058 visits from over 100 countries and all
50 US States.4. Commitment: To finish marathons on all 7 continents by December 31, 2012
Status: COMPLETE – I finished marathons on all 7 continents.5. Commitment: To finish a marathon someplace in the world every year for 14 years.
Status: Finished 17 marathons in 13 countries. Also finished11 half marathons, 5 10k’s, & 7 5k’s.6. Commitment: To run more miles [races + training] than the circumference of the earth [24,901.55].
Status: I have run 23,641 miles – I only need to run 1,260.5 miles over the next 322 days.
Week 5 Training Program Results: [2/6/012 to 2/12/012]
My training program, and miles run each day, for the week was as follows:
M: Weights/Strength
T: 3
W: 5 Intervals
TH: 4 Hills
F: 3 + Weights/Strength
S: 13 S: Rest
You can follow my weekly progress on:
Twitter [http://twitter.com/bobrebello]
Facebook[http://facebook.com/Worldwidemarathons]
Have a great day,
Bob Rebello
