I missed the Friday Morning Run, but still enjoyed the relay - June 10, 2011

I had the best partner - Christian James! He combines strength and thoughtfulness – I did not know people like this still existed! I was very nervous on Thursday and this morning thinking about the relay. I did not want to disappoint him. As soon as he arrived on the track and spoke to me my nervousness eased! He said “we are going to have fun!”, and we did! Thank you partner! These Aussies are strong! Ace!

I was sorry to see George fall at the end of his run! I felt as if I was falling myself, but couldn't do anything about it. He taught me this week how to use my Timex laps watch. I had this watch since the beginning of the year, but was too afraid to have the coach find out that I still didn't know how to use it. So it was a relief to see that George had on Tuesday the same exact watch on; I asked him to help me. George was so patient and methodological in his instruction that I felt as if I was Hannibal of Carthage in the presence of his Greek touter Silenus of Caleacte. Silenus used to teach Hannibal philosophy and horsemanship from the works of Xenophon of Athens (c. 430 – 354 BC). Xenophon was a Greek historian, soldier, and a contemporary and admirer of Socrates. He wrote his horsemanship manual for the instruction of his own sons. The Greeks and the Lebanese have a long history together, as all of the Eastern Mediterranean was under Greek influence for a very long time. The Greeks were the philosophers and teachers and the Lebanese were the traders. When the Lebanese established Carthage, it was for the purpose of trading, but the Romans would not let them - they had to have it all! If Hannibal had won the war, perhaps we would have had the Greco-libano culture instead of the Greco-roman culture. The world would have been a different place! Mind you even during the height of roman empire, most of the culture was still Greek and the Lebanese did a great deal of the building such as the temples at Baalbek.

Thank you coach and all of you who timed, facilitated and supported this event!

Thank you Tony and Ray for running the warm up laps with me!

Thank you Vera for timing me and encouraging me!

Congratulations to everyone! I was watching and admiring everyone of you! What a great group!

800 Meter Relay Challenge