7.27.2009

Perspective...

140.6 miles in 13 hours, 48 minutes
226.27 kilometers in 828 minutes

A little perspective for our readers familiar with southern Ohio - imagine doing this:
Go ahead and jump in the Ohio River in Huntington, WV at the 6th street bridge and swim 2.4 miles. Climb out of the river a little bit past Marshall Stadium and then hop on your bike. Head up Route 2. Cross the Silver Bridge into Ohio and take 35 north. Ride north - but don't miss the exit for 23 toward Circleville. You can stop when you get to the Wal Mart, and park your bike... you might want to lock it up though. Put your runnin' shoes on and start hoofin' it up 23 toward C-bus. Now stay on 23 - it's not safe to run on 270 and 71. You're not done until you get to the hole in the ground where the City Center Mall used to be. You ought to be able to make this trip in under 14 hours. Oh, and did I mention that Mandy did it here, where the hills are mountains and the water is colder?
photo from Britannica.com

And she looked this good at the finish!


Sound like fun?
Yeah... not to me either.

Months and months of training... a lifetime of gratitude.
We love you Amanda B!

Andy and the rest of Betzfamilycolumbus

5 comments:

Christy said...

I'm in tears! That's incredible! What a beautiful friend you all have! I can only imagine what a feat that was...we walked a marathon in 2001 in San Diego for the Luekemia and Lymphoma Society. It was a challenge! Congrats to Mandy!

rht said...

Magnificent finish -- a lifetime of gratitude indeed!

Anonymous said...

Ok, that made me cry. Like a baby. What a wonderful friend you have. God bless her. I hope she had a giant ice cream sundae or whatever is her favorite that night!

The Wendels said...

Tears, tears, and more tears. Mandy is one amazing person!

renee said...

Wow. To understand so much more beyond the numbers what Mandy accomplished made her gift seem just that much more incredible. And to watch her cross the finish... my eyes watered along with others. What a ginormous blesssing and extraordinary friend. Way to go Mandy!