Kevin Lau's Marathon Journey

"If you want to win, run/walk 100 miles; if you want to experience something,
run/walk a marathon," quoted a runner.  My life had been transformed when I crossed the finish line at the L.A. Marathon last month (March 6, 2005).  Here is how I got involved.  One day, my running buddy and I hung out at a tapioca tea place.  Some fliers at the counter caught our attention.  It was about fund raising for leukemia patients through a marathon.  That was the beginning of my journey.

The training program was physically and mentally demanding.  I woke up at 5:30 am every weekend for four months to run around the Rose Bowl to work on my endurance.  During the weeks leading up to the marathon,  I practiced the hill and track runs to build up muscle and power. These training sessions could last for two to four hours each time.   Sometimes we even trained in the rain.  Once a teammate handed me a garbage bag, which I used to make a rain coat!  On the day of the marathon, I saw runners from all walks of life.  I remember a middle age man without a leg who passed me right before the finish line.  I heard an eighty year old man finished his tenth marathon at midnight, taking him sixteen hours!  The bottom line is we all crossed the finish line.

In the end, I was exhausted and barely could walk.  But most importantly, I earned the official race metal, was encouraged that some lives were impacted, and would forever have a memorable experience!

I am grateful and want to thank all the brothers and sisters who sponsored and supported me!

Kevin Lau