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Marathon # 4 - Modesto Marathon CA

This marathon being a road race was a break from the mountains (though mountain scenery beats road races anyday).   

 Modesto didn't disappoint!  
  • Great scenery (orchards, green fields, rows of grapevines, canals)
  • Awesome local runners (that included a large contingent of Modesto Teens who were on the full marathon course - good sign for a community where the teens are into long distance running!)
  • Super awesome spectators who were very creative with their own water stops for the runners (one house had beer kegs out, "with a sign DNF line starts here"!) and overall a lovely weather.   
Josh (I hope I got his name right)
With Josh at Finish
Met some incredible people on the race.  Josh (?) doesn't have hands and legs but that isn't the reason to stop him from conquering a marathon distance.  He is the first person I have seen finishing a marathon on skateboard. Watching him pedal through was humbling.  


Finish Line with AJ
AJ on the course
And then there was AJ. He finished the race on wheel chair and I happen to run a few miles along with him.   One look at his smiling face and you know why the entire town knows him by name.  He sounded like a local hero on the course as every spectator was shouting his name.

Mile #3 bridge
Prep the night before

Got to see Coach Raman on the course.  Its been a while so was good catching up with him.  You are always in good company and good conversation when Coach Raman is next to you.  

There is never a dull moment with Raman around
Mile 19
Given the timing of the race, its a good course to do PR if you are in training.



Life is busy and more so in silicon valley.  On training part, I am barely keeping up :)   Extremely thankful to Heeral and kids, who bear with my running schedule and to my guardian angels who keep getting me across the finish lines.   

 Felt pretty good throughout the race.   Had an easy, smiling face, hands up in the air finish in 4:24:00.   

Finish line
The race's bonus was Heeral and kids who accompanied me to the race (last I recall they came to a race was 'Avenue of the giants' back in May 2011).  Seeing that at mile 19 and 22 was a site for sore eyes.  

 4 done, 8 more to go.   

 Donations are trickling in though the initial uptick has slowed down a bit.  If you are reading this, I hope you can share this story to your network and spread the word.  It will take a village and the more the reach the better.   

 In Lotus Petal news, they are putting up extra rooms and structures to accommodate the additional 75 students they have taken in 2017 (taking the count to a whopping 300 students).   
Your money is changing futures, one slum kid at a time.   I can't wait for the day, years from now when one of those kids is reading this blog, sitting in an office somewhere and looking at the noble souls who opened their hearts and wallets to donate to Lotus petal.  
You the donors, are the real heros, making this happen!  

 Thank you.  Thank you.  Thank you.

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