The four graying, balding, elderly men pictured above are a running team known as Fiel al Tao. This team competed in the half-marathon relay race that took place in Miraflores, Spain last weekend. Needless to say, they struck terror in few hearts on the other teams.
The race was structured as a relay. Each team member ran a five kilometer course, then passed the baton—which, in this case, was a polyester sash worn Miss America-style across the chest—to the next team member. Sounds easy, but there was an unexpected surprise—the first 2.5 kilometers were all uphill.
Given the steepness of the terrain, my time might have improved had I been wearing crampons. But alas, all I had were cramps.
Despite many years of library-lounging and alcohol abuse, team Fiel al Tao finished a respectable 39th out of 68 teams.
And to those 67 other teams, I’d like to issue the following plea: If anyone stumbled across my pancreas on or around the course’s 2.5 kilometer mark, would you kindly return it?
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