Running AROUND THE WORLDs IN 80 DAYS Two days down . . . 78 days to go . . . Post 3 - The Official 24-Hour U. S. Team The current Team and alternates are as follows: Women 1. Katalin Nagy 2. Traci Falbo 3. Maggie Guterl 4. Aly Venti 5. Sky Canaves 6. Connie Gardner and Alternates: (in rank order) 1. Lisa Hughey 2. Stacey Costa 3. Jenny Hoffman and Men 1. Harvey Lewis 2. Isaiah Jansen 3. John Cash 4. Olivier Leblond 5. Rich Riopel 6. Greg Armstrong and Alternates (in rank order) 1. Ed Ettinghausen 2. Serge Arbona 3. Joe Fejes So who goes to Italy? Heres how it works. The first six spots for each gender are guaranteed positions on the team. If one of the six is unable to accept their invitation - injury, illness, work conflict, personal issues, etc., they would forfeit their spot, and the alternates move up, in order of rank. So if any of the six men are unable to make the team, Im the first one to move into the sixth position. Ive been told by many past participants that the odds are good that a spot would open up, as has happened many times in past years. So, why am I saying Im going to Italy, if Im not even on the team yet? Have you heard of the power of positive thinking! Actually, the invitation to Team USA is for nine men and nine women, so each of the alternates can also compete, but not on Team USA. They would compete as independents. Its also my understanding that only the actual team members are eligible for travel reimbursements, if funds are available. So this means that I can go to Italy and compete in the race, but I would be doing it as an independent, and on my own dime. So why not wait another year, when I actually make the team? Heres the facts. The next Worlds 24-Hour will be held in 2017. At that time I will be 54 years old. As it stands, Im the Grandpa of the group, literally (have a four year old grand-daughter). Im in by the skin of my teeth as an alternate. The only other person of the 18 team members and alternates thats over 50 is Connie Gardner. So the odds of me making the team another two years down the road - although not impossible, are not in my favor. So this may be my only chance to go. Besides, Ive been the underdog/dark horse so many times throughout my life, that not being on the team just motivates me to train that much harder, and run that much stronger at the race. I dont wish ill will on anyone, so if all six of the male team members are able to make it to Italy, Ill still have an opportunity to race with them, and Im not about to let that opportunity pass me by, like sand between my fingers. And one more reason to go. Martha and I have been married since we were both 19, for 32 years now, and weve never traveled outside of the United States, other than a few day trips into Baja. So this may be the only time we get to travel to Europe, and by golly, were not going to let that chance slip by either! Keep Calm Run Strong & Jester On . . . Next post - Running fun with female alternates Stacey Costa-Zweifel and Lisa Hughey.
Posted on: Sat, 24 Jan 2015 05:36:48 +0000
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