The Sky Is Not the Limit

By James E. Woolam

The Sky Is NOT the Limit is a collection of adventures that have taken us around the world. Each chapter is an individual story and can be read independently.

Perhaps when Joan and I are old and gray we will sit together and read and re-live all these memories. The stories take you to the four corners of the world, on all seven continents, and the major cities of the world. At last count the number was sixty countries and counting.

I am not too sure who else would be interested - perhaps one day our grandchildren and then one day their grandchildren. Young people who would be curious to know something about their ancestors and what life was like at the close of the 20th century and the dawn of the 21 century. Oh well, who knows. But it sure was fun writing about these travels. And a whole lot more exciting creating these memories with my soul-mate.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Oct 4, 2017
• ISBN: 9781546209775

James E. Woolam

Jim lives on the south bank of the Caloosahatchee River in Fort Myers Florida, where he writes, runs, and dreams up his next challenge and adventure. Along with his wife, Joan, they make regular retreats to their Pocono Mountain home in Lake Harmony, PA to spend time with family and friends.

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2017 James E. Woolam. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 10/03/2017

ISBN: 978-1-5462-0976-8 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5462-0978-2 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-5462-0977-5 (e)

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

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Also by the Author…

BLESS ME FATHER…For I have sinned

WHEN THE HEATHER IS KNEE HIGH

ONE SQUARE MILE OF MEMORIES

A THANK YOU NOTE TO GOD…From a Grateful Heart

WE ARE NOT LETTING GO…EVER!

DEDICATED TO MY GRAND-CHILDREN

Olivia, Claire, Francisco, Luke, and Landes

Nothing happens unless first a dream

Dream Big…Chase your Dreams

"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step…"

Lao-Tzu…Chinese philosopher (604-531 BC)

Although the above is the popular form of his quotation, a more accurate translation would be

The journey of a thousand miles begins beneath one’s feet."

Rather than emphasizing the first step Lao Tzu regarded action as something that arises naturally from stillness.

His actual statement is:

Even the longest journey must begin where you stand…

Choose the one that works for you. My message to you is simple - you can do it!

Another famous quotation - "With God all things are possible."

How true that is. I make the following remarks in all humility and gratitude to God:

My running career began many years ago with a one mile run. I did not think that running a mile without stopping was possible. That run started me on my way. Since then we have traveled, and run, all over the world and visited all seven continents. I have been able to run in the major cities of the world in more than sixty countries. We have run in some unique and special places. Mountains, rivers, and parks, and some truly unusual places.

I have also had the opportunity to enjoy the adventure of such things as climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro, whitewater rafting, scuba diving off the Yucatan Peninsula, sky diving, running along the pyramids, riding a camel in Egypt, and hang gliding from the Tujica mountains in Rio de Janeiro to name a few.

My blessings and gifts are many and varied. But I have no greater blessing in life than our wonderful grand-children.

A

special thank you to my sister, Jean, for making the publication of this book possible.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER 1   A JOURNEY OF A THOUSAND MILES BEGINS WITH A SINGLE STEP

CHAPTER 2   RUNNING AROUND THE WORLD

CHAPTER 3   NEW YORK CITY MARATHON

CHAPTER 4   TRIATHLONS 1995

CHAPTER 5   WHITEWATER SEPTEMBER 1995

CHAPTER 6   SCUBA DIVING

CHAPTER 7   NEW ENGLAND JULY 1997

CHAPTER 8   PARIS 2001

CHAPTER 9   SOUTH AMERICA 2002

CHAPTER 10   MT. KILIMANJARO

CHAPTER 11   OLIVIA BOOK ONE AND GENEALOGY

CHAPTER 12   EUROPEAN MOTOR TRIP 2003

CHAPTER 13   2005 CRUISE

CHAPTER 14   SKY DIVING 2005

CHAPTER 15   IRELAND 2005

CHAPTER 16   ASIA, ASTRALIA, AND SOUTH PACIFIC

CHAPTER 17   BERMUDA

CHAPTER 18   BERLIN MARATHON, POLAND, PRAGUE 2007

CHAPTER 19   THE BAHAMAS

CHAPTER 20   HANG GLIDING IN RIO DE JANEIRO

CHAPTER 21   ANTARCTICA

CHAPTER 22   LUKE, ME, AND THE SENIOR OLYMPICS

CHAPTER 23   FT. LAUDERDALE MARATHON

CHAPTER 24   WHEN GOD CLOSES ONE DOOR HE OPENS ANOTHER

CHAPTER 25   RAILS TO TRAILS

CHAPTER 26   A TRIP TO NEW ENGLAND TRIP

CHAPTER 27   DAYTONA BEACH AND PLEIN AIR PAINTING

CHAPTER 28   PANAMA CANAL CRUISE

CHAPTER 29   TO RUSSIA AND BACK

CHAPTER 30   HAVANA CUBA MARATHON

CHAPTER 31   CRUISE TO CENTRAL AMERICA AND THE CARRIBEAN

PROLOGUE

M y son, Scott, was getting ready to go for a training run in connection with the upcoming Disney World Marathon when he was approached by his five -year old daughter, Olivia. She asked, Can I run with you. Of course you can run with me, he replied.

With that said the two of them took off running toward the end of their street. They arrived at the corner, turned around, and headed for home. Olivia was still running when they reached their driveway.

She smiled, looked up at her father, and said, My legs said STOP, but my brain said GO!

Her father smiled back and said, I’m proud of you.

The actions and remarks of my five -year old granddaughter were the epitome of not giving up. In the simplest terms she set a goal, struggled, and made it to the finish line. Olivia had the satisfaction of achieving a difficult task. She has expressed these same thoughts as a competitive swimmer, basketball player, triathlete, and now as a member of Bishop Verot Track Team and Basketball Team. She has come a long way over the years. Looks like we have the beginnings of a strong and competitive person - both athletically and academically.

That’s what this book is about. It is about running and a whole lot more. It is about chasing a dream, stretching your imagination, achieving goals, believing in yourself, having vision, not putting limits on yourself, and most importantly not giving up. If you can dream it you can do it. The requirements - dedication, determination, discipline, and plain old hard work.

My dreams began when I was a youngster. I would read the travel section of the Sunday newspaper and dream about flying or taking a cruise to one of the exotic ports of call throughout the world. I would get lost in my thoughts reading maps of the world. My financial situation would not let any of this happen and then responsibilities made it impossible

I grew up got married, started a family, fell prey to alcoholism, divorced and remarried. Through God’s Grace I had the chance to have another family and another career. All of this required my dreams to be put aside, but not forgotten. I never gave up on them. Again through God’s Grace I was able to finally take them out of the closet and chase them through running. These pages are not in any way intended to be boastful about any accomplishments. To the contrary as I write them I find it all extremely humbling.

God has blessed me beyond my wildest dreams. I have been given the opportunity to live out a fantasy. But first you have to have the dream.

My running career has taken me to the four corners of the world, but it has also given me the opportunity to conjure up some totally unrelated fantastic adventures and then go do them.

Running has had an impact on my physical, mental, and spiritual life. I remember many years ago, long before I began to run, talking to a young man who ran marathons. It was beyond my comprehension that he could run 26.2 miles. Inquisitive by nature, I asked him an endless number of questions. I simply couldn’t believe that anyone could do that, and the bigger question was why would you do it! I certainly was not contemplating any such adventure for myself. Little did I know that one day, at age 54, I would do the first of many marathons. Never sell yourself short.

CHAPTER ONE

A JOURNEY OF A THOUSAND MILES BEGINS WITH A SINGLE STEP

7:04 a.m. June 28, 2002 atop Mt. Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, Africa, the highest stand- alone mountain in the world. I was standing there with our guide, Thomas Nguma, witnessing a breathtaking sunrise off to the east. The climb began five days earlier, or at least that’s what I was thinking at that moment. On reflection, I began to realize that this adventure had its beginning almost twenty years ago. That’s when I began my running career. Little did I know at that time that running would teach me many lessons about the struggles of life and with dedication, determination, and discipline we can accomplish any goal that we establish. More about Mt. Kilimanjaro later; but for now permit me to start at the beginning.

I started running in 1981 and during this life long journey I have literally ran around the world, covering more than 50,000 miles on all seven continents, in more than sixty countries, and most of the major cities in the world, in all kinds of weather and geography. Running has had a major impact in three areas of my life - physical, mental, and spiritual. I will explain this in detail on the following pages. Also, it has been the catalyst to give me the courage to attack countless other challenges. I started to believe If you can dream it you can do it.

In the spring of 1981 I accepted a promotion to Buffalo, New York and decided to do something about my weight. I had tried running in the Carolinas with little success. So my plan in Buffalo was to start out with a walking program and move up to running. I had entered an alcoholic recovery program in the summer of 1973 and began eating ice cream - lots and lots of ice cream! I learned that this was not unusual. The body craves sugar. At any rate, as the result my weight ballooned up to more than 200 pounds.

As fall arrived I was well into my program and walking every night. The weather was delightful fall weather and quite conducive to walking; however, winter was rapidly approaching. Buffalo in the winter is not exactly the ideal place to be walking at night. Nonetheless, I kept at it. After dinner I would bundle up, put on my gloves, snow hat, and boots and off I went. Many nights I came back looking like a snowman and Joan looked at me with amazement. I would be covered with snow and ice frozen on my face, but convinced that I was on the right track. Slowly, a few pounds began to melt off. I was making progress.

My life was going great. I had a wonderful family, great job with an excellent corporation, we loved the Buffalo area, and my exercise program was paying dividends. Wham! Everything was turned topsy-turvy when it was announced in the fall of 1982 the company was merging with a Philadelphia based insurance company - the company that fired me in 1973!

Needless to say, I went through some sleepless nights. I was reassured by senior management that everything would be fine. Indeed, that proved to be true, and in 1983 I received a promotion and was transferred to the home office in Philadelphia.

One of the employee benefits for management employees was a health and fitness facility located in the home office building. It was a state of the art facility with every conceivable type of equipment. I enrolled in the program immediately, and was assigned a personal trainer, Patti Ross. In addition to her guidance and instructions I was given a complete physical, with regular follow ups, by the Medical Director, Dr. Raymond Q. Seyler. The program, and these two individuals, had a major impact on my physical condition. They provided not only sound medical and professional direction, but they were great cheerleaders as well,

On June 23, 1983 I was given a complete physical and stress test. As the result of my efforts in Buffalo I had managed to get my weight down to exactly 200 pounds - I clearly had a long way to go. I worked hard on the exercise program developed specifically for me. I was making progress and had another physical and stress test on August 27, 1985. My weight was coming down, but a long way from my goal. My cholesterol was 220 and triglycerides 239 - both far too high for a 53-year-old male.

I decided to get more serious about the program. At this point I was doing my running on a treadmill along with exercise on the various pieces of equipment. I found it extremely difficult to run on the treadmill for more than fifteen minutes - it was boring! I began thinking about running on the roads.

It took a while, but eventually I was outside plodding away. I am happy to report all these years later I am still out there, plodding away, and I might add, loving it. I am equally happy to report that on my recent annual physical, May 10, 2013, my cholesterol is 151 and triglycerides 102. Both well within acceptable limits. My weight is 155 pounds, the same as my football playing high school years. I can unequivocally attribute these results to running, exercise, and diet. I haven’t had an alcoholic beverage since July 18, 1973 and stopped smoking cigarettes on August 2, 1975.

I have learned that each activity feeds off the other. For example, running is hard work so I don’t want to waste all the hard work by abusing what I eat. Smoking is completely out of the question. Now that I know I am alcoholic I don’t drink. I know that if I follow each part of the program I should remain healthy and keep the weight off. The theory is quite simple - burn off more calories than you take in. There is no magic pill or silver bullet.

One day I approached Patti Ross and told her that I wanted to get involved in some type of athletic competition, and at my age I was not about to start playing football.

Patti said, Start running.

I replied I hate running. I tried it once and it was a disaster. I can’t run a mile without stopping.

You are running too fast. Go to your local high school and run around the track four times without stopping. Try to do the distance in sixteen minutes

I can probably do that walking.

Just do it for a week or so and see how it goes. She was most emphatic. I followed her instruction. Before long I was running more than a mile without stopping. And to my surprise I was thoroughly enjoying it. Also, I was still trying to lose weight and realized running would help me in that area.

One day in the gym Patti approached me and asked how my running was going. I brought her up to date and she said. CIGNA is sponsoring a 5K (3.1 miles) race in center city Philadelphia and I want you to compete.

I said, Are you crazy? There is no way I am ready to run a race, let alone one of that distance. She would not take no for an answer.

I completed the registration form and showed up at the start line. To my amazement, and delight, I finished my first official race on September 9, 1986. My time was 24 minutes and 16 seconds. I placed 34th in my age group and number 346 out of 486 total runners. Running has had a major impact on my approach to life. I truly do believe that the only limits we have are those that we self- impose.

Having accomplished one goal I started running races most weekends. I ran a 5K race in Moorestown, New Jersey and set a personal record (PR) of 22:46, averaging seven minutes and sixteen seconds per mile. I began to develop some confidence and felt as though I wanted to tackle a bigger challenge than the traditional 5K races.

We had a summer home on the barrier island of Ocean City, New Jersey and I became aware of a half marathon (13.1 miles) that was going to take place on October 18, 1986. I was quite apprehensive about taking on such a challenge. After all I had run my first race just a few weeks earlier. Nonetheless, I decided to enter the race and give it my best shot. The island is only seven miles long so it meant running from one end to the other. Five miles of the race would take place on the boardwalk, finishing at the Music Pier. We went down Friday night, had a pasta dinner, and early to bed. I was up at dawn and eager to go. It was a beautiful fall day, the sun shining brilliantly on the ocean. This was one of our favorite seasons at the Jersey Shore. I pinned my race number to my shirt and headed for the start line, nervously anticipating what was ahead. I didn’t have long to wait. The gun went off signaling the start of my first 13.1 mile race. My body held up well and I finished strong. My time was one hour fifty-eight minutes and forty-nine seconds - just under nine minutes per mile. I was ecstatic! My goal was to simply finish, no other expectations. I accomplished my goal and then some. I was really starting to believe what I had been saying - you can accomplish what you dream and work for it. So now what?

I began thinking about the conversation I had years ago several years ago with a young man while visiting our Minneapolis office. He was describing a marathon that he had just completed. I remember being perplexed by the notion of running 26.2 miles. I was beginning to understand. Find a challenge and go for it. The decision was made. I would try to start and finish a marathon.

I consulted my Runners’ World magazine and decided on the New Jersey Waterfront Marathon scheduled for April 26, 1987. This race would be the site of the 1988 Olympic trials. I thought it would be exciting to run with potential Olympic athletes. My training began immediately.

I finished in four hours thirty-eight minutes forty-six seconds! My first marathon. My overall place was 939 in a field of more than 2,400 runners and 42nd place in my age group. Pretty good effort for my first event of this magnitude. I was enjoying both running and finding different challenges to tackle. I told Joan how much I enjoyed running a marathon and said, I think I will try to run the major marathons around the country and the world.

That’s a pretty ambitious challenge. But if I know you, it will happen, She replied.

They don’t come any bigger than the Big Apple - the New York City Marathon. That was first on my list. I was determined to make that happen.

CHAPTER TWO

RUNNING AROUND THE WORLD

W hen I began running I had no idea that it would take me where it has. My plan at the time was to exercise, lose a little weight, and enter a few races. Little did I know that it would become a major part of my life. Speaking figuratively, it has taken me around the world. I have logged more than 50,000 miles and still trudging along in my running shoes. The following is a summary of some of the places it has taken me:

CONTINENTS:

COUNTRIES

MAJOR INTERNATIONAL CITIES

OCEANS/SEAS

BAYS

GULFS

LAKES

RIVERS

MOUNTAIN RANGES

PARKS

SPECIAL PLACES

MARATHONS

TRIATHLONS

STADIUMS

BRIDGES

MAJOR LEAGUE BALL PARK STADIUMS

CHAPTER THREE

NEW YORK CITY MARATHON

N ovember 1, 1987- A beautiful crisp fall day. The New York City Marathon. The largest spectator sporting event in the world. More than one million spectators line the streets of the 26.2-mile course covering all five boroughs of the Big Apple. The finish line is within sight and I am going to cross it. This has clearly been a life-changing event.

After running for more than 4 hours every muscle in my body is aching-screaming STOP!. I am definitely dehydrated but determined to finish. During the grueling race I had plenty of time to reflect on my life. Marriage, alcoholism, divorce, loss of business career, marriage again, recovery, and a whole new life. But more about all of that later.

My daughter, Amy, met me at mile 25. She will be my cheerleader and run and root me home as she continues to shout words of encouragement. The crowds lining the finish are deafening. The music is blaring as I cross the finish line. The volunteer places my finishers medal around my neck and I burst out in tears of joy. It is over. I completed the race of my life- 26.2 miles in the Big Apple. More than 20,000 runners from all over the world. I now truly believe you can accomplish whatever you dream. True, it does take discipline, commitment, and hard work. But you can do it if you believe you can. Running this marathon has proven that statement to be true.

The New York City Marathon. Could I do it? How do you run 26.2 miles. What if I fail? Get rid of the negative thoughts, work hard, get busy, and do it.

After many months of preparation the big day arrived. The race started at the foot of the Verrazano Bridge in Staten Island. Mayor Ed Koch shot a canon and 20,000 plus runners started their odyssey. Some 4 plus hours later I was in Central Park about to cross the finish line. Mission accomplished. Now what? I now have some lifetime goals that I keep whittling away. Run a race in all 50 states. So far I have run in 24 and counting. I hope to be able to run on all 7 continents and as many countries as possible. So far I have run in fifteen countries on four continents and still counting!

One of the great joys of running has been the fact that my kids have started running with me. My daughter Amy and I completed the Chicago Marathon. Scott, my son, and I have run several marathons from the Mardi Gras in New Orleans to Walt Disney world in Florida. My daughter Dianne ran the Philadelphia Half Marathon with me and is hooked on running. It truly is a spiritual experience. Out on the roads running with them and sharing life. Doesn’t get any better. One of my secret goals is to have one of my grandkids join us one day. Three generations. Running has become a family experience and tradition.

Running has also opened me up to take other challenges and risks. I am now a certified deep-sea scuba diver, experienced the thrill of white water rafting, and completed several triathlons. It has also helped me to believe that to truly live life you need to reach out, take risks, and experience new things. Don’t be afraid to fail. Certainly trying to go to school at my age, trying to write my memoirs, and then doings it exposes me to fear and humiliation - but I am trying.

So I continue to look for new challenges and opportunities. Next year I will be 70years old and am working on plans to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro and run a marathon when we descend. We will see how all of that goes. I guess that is a story for another time. Meanwhile, having said that let’s get back to my beginning.

CHAPTER FOUR

TRIATHLONS 1995

F ollowing my operation for prostate cancer on June 28, 1995 I decided it was time to find some new challenges in addition to running. I saw an article in the paper promoting a triathlon sponsored by the Lake Norman, North Carolina YMCA. The idea of participating intrigued me.

Whenever someone discovers that you are involved with triathlons the first question they ask is, Have you done the one in Hawaii? If they know you run marathons they always ask, Have you run the Boston Marathon? I can answer yes to Boston and no to Hawaii. All marathons are the same distance - 26.2 miles. Not so with a triathlon.

A race that is a triathlon involves three activities - swimming, biking, and running. The race can be various distances. The triathlon in Hawaii is known as the Ironman. The title is well earned. You swim 2.4 miles in open water. Swimming in open water is a great deal more difficult than swimming in a pool. You must deal with the current, wind, and weather conditions. Following the swim you then ride your bike for 112 miles. The route is hilly, indeed mountainous, and of course the weather is hot. When you come in from your bike ride you transition into running a full 26.2 mile marathon! To participate in the Ironman requires an extremely serious commitment to training. Something that I have not been willing to do. I had a good friend in Charlotte that made such a commitment. He was young, single, and had responsibilities. He quit his job and trained eight hours a day for one year. He succeeded in his goal.

While I have not made a commitment to the Ironman I have completed the following triathlons of various distances up to the Olympic distance:

I have participated with my son, Scott, and daughter, Amy, in some of these races. And one of the fantastic experiences involved my grandchildren Olivia, Claire, and Luke. We completed the triathlon on Captiva Island in 2012 and 2013. Three generations of Woolam in the same event. Of course, that makes it that much more exciting. When I use the word exciting to describe these events my wife, Joan, comes to mind. Over the years she attended many of the races and marathons that I have been involved with; however, she no longer attends them as a matter of routine. I told her some time ago while I appreciate her support it isn’t necessary. Triathlons are a different story. She claims that she really enjoys being a spectator at these events. She feels that they are exciting to watch. Athletes coming out of the water, running to the transition area, others returning from the bike ride and heading off on the foot race. The transition area is indeed a high energy area with plenty of adrenaline flowing. I feel the same way.

The following gives a brief description of the above races, how I fared in the race, and some of my memories:

LAKE NORMAN YMCA September 1995 - Distance Swim ¼ mile Bike 10k Run 5k. This was my first triathlon. I had absolutely no idea what to expect. As a matter of fact, I didn’t even have a bicycle. Our niece, Barb Ryan, let me borrow her old high school days 20 speed. The weather was terrible. A driving rain that lasted the entire day. I was nervous, to say the least, about swimming a ¼ mile in Lake Norman. My training consisted of swimming laps in our community pool. I quickly found out the difference between a pool and open water. One of my concerns was drowning. That fear was quickly laid to rest. There were volunteers on surf boards all over the place. Also, a speed boat with the motor idling was nearby. In the even anyone appeared to be in difficulty, and some did, a volunteer was at their side instantly.

I came out of the water near the end of the pack, threw my color-coded swimming cap into a large barrel, ran to the transition area, put on my running shoes, hopped onto my bike and took off. A word about the swim cap. Swimmers are sent into the water in waves. You are provided with a colored cap based on your age group. A volunteer counts the athletes as they enter the water and count the caps as you come out. Hopefully, the numbers reconcile.

The bike ride was hilly, windy, and the rain pounded my face. I missed a turn and had to do a little extra. I managed to find the finish line and jumped off the bike and started running. To my surprise, my legs felt like rubber and I had little control over them. After about five minutes I settled in and felt in control of my body.

Amy was at the finish line giving me a big cheer and words of encouragement. I said to myself, "What an experience! I will definitely do this again. I really felt like I was in a race. It was much more exciting than a normal road race. We went into the gym and to my astonishment I discovered that I won 3rd place in the 60-65 age group. I was two months removed from my prostate cancer operation and definitely found another athletic competition that would become a part of my life.

* * *

JEKYLL ISLAND September 1996 - Distance swim ¼ mile bike 10 miles run 5k Jekyll Island is a small island off the southeast coast of Georgia. St. Simon Island is an adjacent island. Both places are near Brunswick, Georgia. The trip was a five-hour drive from Charlotte.

Our daughter, Amy, became excited watching me participate in the Lake Norman race and decided that she wanted to try a triathlon. Needless to say I was delighted and looked forward to sharing the experience with her. We decided to make a mini vacation out of the trip. We were able to get a room for two nights at a Days Inn that was located next to the starting line of the race.

After a five hour drive down the interstates we arrived at Jekyll Island shortly after noon. An absolutely gorgeous day. The sun was brilliant and reflected on the ocean brightly as the waves broke onto the beach. The motel was oceanfront and the beach start line for the swim was practically at our door. We checked in, had lunch, and went down to the beach. The promoters of the race were getting things ready for the race. One of the local radio stations was also one of the sponsors. They had a strong presence and played upbeat music. It was easy to get your adrenaline flowing and excited about the events of tomorrow. We settled in for an early night’s sleep.

We were up before daylight and anxious to get started. Amy and I headed for the start line and Joan went off to breakfast. The swim would be a ¼ mile parallel to the beach in a northerly direction. This was a first for the both of us. We waded out past the breakers and off we went. The first thing you learn is to keep your mouth closed. After a mouthful of salt water you learn. The life guards were all over the place with a watchful eye. Swimming in the ocean is more difficult than a lake, and no comparison to a pool. We finished wit out any problems and took off on our bikes.

The bike portion was two laps around the island. The course was flat and fast. We managed to pick up some ground on some of our competitors.

The 5k took us along the beaches and what was a boardwalk of sorts. We crossed the finish line and I was more excited for Amy than myself. She is a determined young woman. When she sets her sights on a goal there is no turning back. This determination carries over to all aspects of her life.

I managed to get her category changed to the Clydesdale division (not a very flattering title) and she came in 1st place. I was fortunate enough to come in 1st in the 60-64 age group. The after-race party was a good one. Plenty of food, drink, and good music provided by the local radio station. We enjoyed the festivities and another beautiful day at the beach.

As the event came to a close we went back to our room cleaned up and decided to take a tour of the rest of the island. We discovered that in the early part of the 20th century Jekyll was a retreat location for the rich and famous of the country. Business tycoons and celebrities from the north. We visited the Jekyll Island Hotel which has been the grand old dame of the island for many years. As a matter of fact, Joan bought me a sweat shirt and baseball cap from the hotel. Every time I wear the hat I think of this special weekend. Like typical tourists we played a game of miniature gold, had dinner, walked the beach, and called it a night.

Up early we checked out and decided to visit nearby St. Simon Island before going home. A beautiful place located right on the water. Joan treated Amy to a piece of jewelry as a memory of her first triathlon. We had lunch at a seafood restaurant located right on the water and was provided with a gorgeous view of the ocean.

Following lunch, we walked around the town and took in the sights. By mid-afternoon it was time to start the journey back to Charlotte. A great weekend in a special place with the special people of my life.

* * *

SIESTA KEY TRIATHLON August 24, 1997 - Distance swim ¼ mile bike 10 mile run 3.1 miles. Siesta Key is a small island near Sarasota, Florida. Scott and I planned to do this race together. It would be his first. The day before we left I was riding my bike in Lakes Park, went through a pile of sand, and down I went. I tried to brace myself as I went down and landed hard on my wrist. When I got home Joan said, You’re not going to try and do that race with your hand hurting.

I replied, Absolutely. My first race with my son I’m not about to cancel out.

When I got up in the morning the wrist hurt, but it was tolerable. So, the two of us drove up Interstate 75 and found our motel in downtown Sarasota. We watched sports on television and then out to dinner. Scott took us to dinner at Carabbas Italian Restaurant. It was my first time at this new and fast becoming very popular, Italian restaurant. Following dinner we went back to the room, a little more sports TV and early to bed.

As usual the race started early in the morning. The start and finish line were right on the public beach guaranteeing a big crowd. The first leg of the race was ¼ mile in the Gulf of Mexico. The course ran parallel to the beach. The weather was perfect and the surf quite calm making the swim a bit easier. Scott was out of the water several minutes ahead of me. I crossed the finish line and hopped on my bike. I would not see Scott again until I finished the race.

The bike ride was a one loop race around the island. I noticed a couple of people with flat tires. My first thought was if that happens to me the race is over! Fortunately, that didn’t happen. I finished the bike portion and was off and running on the 5k. The last mile of the race was on the beach. The sand was soft. After swimming, biking ten miles, running two, and finishing the last mile in sand it was definitely challenging. Nonetheless I crossed the finish line and to my surprise was rewarded with a 3rd place finish.

We stayed for some of the festivities, enjoyed the food and music. We both agreed that this was the first of many races that we would do together. How true that statement was.

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NAPLES, FLORIDA September 1997 - Distance swim ¼ mile, bike 10 miles, run 5k. Scott and I enjoyed the Siesta Key so much we jumped at the opportunity to participate in this race so close to home. We drove down to Naples Saturday afternoon, registered, picked up our number and tee shirt, and stayed for the pasta dinner which was included in the registration fee.

Early the next morning we drove back down with Kristin and Joan joining us as our cheering team. The swim was a ¼ mile long running parallel to the beach. Normally the bike ride is next. The lineup was different this time. We ran the 5k race next with the bike ride to follow. Not that I’ve done that many triathlons, but the change in routine was a bit confusing and took a bit of adjustment. It’s interesting how the mind reacts to change. I’m not talking about racing only; any kind of change in routine.

With the run complete we took off on our bicycle for the final leg. The finish line was on the grounds of the hotel. A beautiful setting right on the beach. We enjoyed the post-race goodies and stayed for the presentations. I managed a second-place finish in this one.

One of the nice parts of doing these races in Florida is the gorgeous location they are usually in. Beachfront. The Gulf of Mexico as the backdrop. Before going home, we took advantage of a lovely day on the white sands of Naples.

The highlight of this race was a gift from Scott and Kristin. A framed, three-panel, picture of Scott and I at various stages of the race. A picture that hangs proudly in our den. When I started running many years ago I had no idea it would lead to so many adventures and wonderful memories. Especially memories with my grown children.

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CLAREMONT, FLORIDA April 5, 1998 Swim 1/3 mile Bike 10 miles Run 5 miles. Claremont is located in the center of Florida. Believe it or not the area is actually hilly! For that reason and the perfect weather year around the national headquarters for the Triathlon Association relocated from Colorado to the area. Elite triathletes come here from all parts of the world to train.

Scott and I drove up Saturday, checked into our motel, and went to the registration center to pick up our number and other information. It is always exciting to be in the registration and expo area. You can sense the anticipation and energy of all the athletes. We had dinner and early to bed.

Up early and off to the staging area. It was still dark and a bit on the chilly side. We edged our way to the front of the crowd in an effort to save every precious second. A bad decision! The starting pistol was fired and a mad rush for the water developed. Scott did fine. I almost got crushed. Another lesson learned. The front should be reserved for the elite competitors. They are not shy about pushing their way to the front. Somehow, I survived and settled into my own rhythm. Before long Scott left me behind and was well on his way. Between the chilly air and water, and the scary start I struggled. Eventually I settled down and was able to finish without any problems. Clearly, this was the most difficult swim of the races I have participated in.

On my bike and off I went. Not long into the race I noticed Scott stopped on the side of the road. I pulled over and asked how he was doing. He said he had to stop and throw up. He told me he would be okay and insisted I keep going. Reluctantly, I did just that. A few miles into the race he caught up with me and off he went. At one point, I looked down at my speedometer and I was going downhill at 35 MPH! I was petrified. What if I have a flat tire? It would be all over.

I finished and moved on to the five-mile run along the lakefront. When I approached the finish line Scott was there cheering me on.

We stayed for some of the refreshments and music along with the celebrations. Driving home we agreed it was the most difficult and challenging race we have done in our short triathlon career. Little did we know what was in store for us in just a few weeks.

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