Tomorrow I will endure the Julie Hughes Triathalon. It is a relatively short (5 mile run/between 10 and 14 mile bike ride (depending on who you talk to/1000 meter (or yard)) event. The reason I say "endure" is that this will be the most exercise I have voluntarily tried in about...well since I was 21, so like 5 years ago. In fact, the most recent Feat of Strength I have put myself through was agreeing to do the U.S. Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer physical fitness test if Notre Dame lost to Navy in football. This was in 2007. I mean, when was the last time ND lost to Navy-yeah I know, 1964; seemed like a sure thing at the time-stupid Notre Dame with their anti-papist theology department (Sorry Uncle Bill). About 9 months later I was able to complete my end of the bargain and finish the Rescue Swimmer PFT in one piece, mostly thanks to Jake Stall and his friend, Toedar, Leghair of the North. The reason I bring this up is:
1. I'm a bit nervous about the event (pre-game jitters if you will) and
2. To segue into the subject of PLEDGE RUN PARLAYS.
Whenever I speak to someone about the run, eventually the conversation moves to one of three subjects:
Why I am doing this (to raise money for a very worthy cause that is tax-deductible (there is the plug for this week-you can give by clicking on the link in the upper right hand corner of the page));
Was it humanly possible for Wilt Chamberlain to reach the non-basketball achievements he claimed (I think no, but it does depend on what the meaning of "achieved" means);
What I am willing to carry with me, do or wear while running up Gavin Hill and Harbor Mountain in order to raise more money for the memorial.
These parlays/side-bets/dares have ranged from wearing a prime rib on my back to the spandex/viking helmet combo to imbibing Navy rum during the run (read the comments section). Because I think it will help to set some guidelines and perhaps assist you, the international blog reader, in providing me with some creative choices-because who wants to run up a hill in running shoes, workout gear and a Camelback? I offer you this short, hopefully informative GUIDE TO PLEDGE RUN PARLAYS.
1. Any challenges which may endanger my person, sound crazy or cause my wife to shake her head- $5000 donation
2. Challenges designed to make it more difficult to get up the hill and/or make you laugh-$1000
3. Challenges designed to highlight my innate and uncanny ability to look like a nimrod (and no, not the hunter)-free
Well, that is about it. If you make the donation and note it in the remarks section of the CG Foundation online form, I will do my best to make it happen and provide video evidence on this blog following the run. If you do offer a parlay, please keep in my I will be following the guidance of the Seal show at the San Diego Zoo while running up the course in that I will be taking only pictures and leaving only footprints (and perhaps vomit), and that at a minimum, I have to be home by dinner.
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