Russ's Challenge: 26.2 Miles of Pride and Pain

The picture above is my friend and fellow Cougar Crazy Russ (right) with Adam (left), of Adam's Sports Blog. Let me take you back three years in time to my dank, nasty Liberty Square apartment. I was sitting there with Russ (also seen on right, eating donuts) when discussion of a marathon arose. Being the confident young man that he was, Russ proclaimed that he could run a marathon without any training. I said no way, but stuck by his claim, saying he could complete a marathon without stopping to walk and without any training.

Over the next several years, talk of that marathon would periodically arise. Russ would always stick by his claim, but would never commit to actually attempting it. Well, due to to increased pressures as of late, including a Cougarboard strand in which no one believed he could accomplish it, Russ has finally agree to attempt his marathon.

So on Saturday, March 28th, 2009 at 9 a.m. at the Timpanogas High School track, Russ will be running 105 laps. The rest of us will be having a BBQ and some good laughs at Russ's expense. Feel free to come join us if you're in the neighborhood (BYOM).

Here are the groundrules:

• Full 26.2 mile marathon
• Absolutely no training, running, or eating healthy betweeen now and the 28th
• No stopping, walking, or power-walking
• Must complete in under 6 hours (to win the cash on the line)
• He is allowed to stop to pee, poop, throw up, or die

It is too late for him to back out now as Facebook invitations have been sent and people are driving in from California to attend. So lay it all on the line Russ, and thank you in advance for entertaining me.

Please share your guess as to what the end result will be. One thing I know for sure......it will end in pain. But I'd guess he makes it to the 12-15 mile range before some sort of injury forces him to quit.

I have 3 final thoughts regarding this attempt:

1. I can't believe he's actually going to do it
2. I don't believe he can actually do it
3. I am so glad he's actually going to do it