Havelock Scoop

Pain and pride. Embarrassment and elation. Reluctance and resolve. A night of contrasts bled into morning as I staggered off the quarter-mile track.

The blister forming on my left heel landed with a sore thud, my calves ached, my legs chafed. I had just walked 26.2 miles in the Craven County Relay for Life, an overnight team walk that raised nearly $335,000 for the American Cancer Society.

In these pages, I pledged to walk a marathon in exchange for your donations. I kept my word April 25 and 26, completing the last of my 105 laps in the pre-dawn stillness. Because of your support, I was able to give relay organizers $547 in cash and checks.

I made the same pledge for the 2007 relay and had finished the walk at a sprightly pace, clocking in at just under eight hours including restroom and water breaks. Not bad for someone who shuffles syllables for a living; someone whose only regular athletic endeavor is listening to sports radio.

Remembering my beginner’s luck, I approached my sophomore marathon with an almost cavalier attitude. I even joked in my April 2 column that my vigorous training regimen would include limiting myself to just one pint of ice cream per day.

I later had to eat my words, and they weren’t as sweet as Cherry Garcia.

After about 70 laps, I realized that I must have been in better shape the year before. The searing pain in my calf muscles confirmed my conjecture. My swift gait slowed to a sore stroll, and I began to take frequent breaks.

My bruised ego hurt as much as my blistering feet. Running a marathon is said to test both endurance and pain tolerance, but having difficulty walking one, to me, was humiliating.

Feeling both strained and sheepish, I made my final circuits around the track, pausing more often than I would have liked for a swig from my water bottle and a momentary rest for my legs.

When I passed the balloon-filled archway that marked the end of my journey — more than nine hours after walking my first lap — I felt more grateful than proud. It wasn’t pluck or machismo or strength that kept me going, it was the encouragement of friends, acquaintances and donors.

Several people joined me for portions of the walk. Havelock Commissioner George Liner put in three swift miles, my friends Cody and Rachel and my sister Kim walked a couple laps each and William, my good friend and former business partner, stuck it out for almost 12 miles.

Those of you who donated money to the relay on my behalf deserve special thanks. Because of you, the American Cancer Society has $547 more for research and treatment. Contributors to this year’s Relay for Life marathon were:

- Ken and Judy Nebraski
- Shirley Selepes
- Ken and Melinda Davis
- Susan G. Coleman
- Harold and Michelle Adams
- Tenille from Coastal Carolina Imaging
- Lisa L. Downey
- Jim and Hunter Bretzius
- Ted and Judy Bird
- Jim and Kathleen Muse
- Gloria M. Miller
- Ed and Connie Stoermer
- Sandra Parker
- George Griffin
- William and Patricia Jones
- Betty Gurganus
- Colly Beck, in memory of Ralph Roberts and Ken Cobb
- Mary DeRosia, my aunt
- Kathleen Friedman, my mother
- George Smith, my mother’s fiancé
- Margie D. Fritze
- Jeremy and Jodi Blalock
- Stephen and Kim Allison 
- Three anonymous cash donors

Thank you all for your support. It wasn’t my steps and stumbles that made this a success, it was your concern for cancer patients and your willingness to chip in.

As for my overly sore legs and disappointing finish time, I’ll work on getting into better shape for next year’s relay.

A little less ice cream ought to help.

Corey Friedman is the Havelock News’ staff writer and photographer. He can be reached at 444-1999 or via e-mail at cfriedman@freedomenc.com. Read his blog, the Havelock Scoop, at http://cfriedman.encblogs.com.

This entry was posted on Friday, May 2nd, 2008 at 4:20 pm and is filed under Soapbox. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.