"Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to take rank with those poor souls who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in the gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat."
--Theodore Roosevelt
This Sunday, June 22, 2008, I will be facing the greatest challenge of my life--that of proving to myself and to you, my dear blog readers--that Life, indeed, Begins at 50.
For the past 2 weeks I have been sending invitations to all my friends and relatives to join me in my daring attempt to run 5k to commemorate my golden year of existence on this beautiful planet. Dubbed as "Takbo ng Manilenyo Para sa Kalusugan, Kabataan at Kalikasan", the race will start at the Luneta Grandstand along Roxas Blvd. then U-turn at Quirino Ave.
As I have fantasized last year, the recipient of my Golden Run is the Down Syndrome Assn. of the Phils. Inc.(DSAPI). Thank Gold some of those invited who can't run with me pledged their financial assistance to DSAPI. For this, I am extremely grateful although I must admit that I was initially devastated that my friends can't join me. But later I realized that their spirits are very much willing but their bodies, weak. While others can't join because of unavoidable circumstances.
So who will be running side by side with me? Well, I have successfully recruited four brave individuals: (drums roll please . . . !) My 1st cousins Junjun de Ala Muego, Wendel de Ala, Ronald de Ala de Venecia and his girlfriend Chari.
My darling children Gio and Eia promised to cheer for me. Just don't know how they could possibly get out of bed at 4 AM.
So folks, this is it . . . ! After 13 months of mental, physical and emotional preparation I will finally reap the harvest of my hard work. Pleeease pray for me and my four companions.
(Thank you, thank you Jaymie, for consistently inspiring me. This wouldn't be possible without you as my bullheaded mentor. Hope to see my IDOL in the flesh after the race. And oh, belated happy happy birthday to your one-in-a-million hubby!)
