Mission Possible -- Badwater

Pacing and Crew Update: Inspiration and Motivation

Aloha Mission Possible Crew and Pacers:

We are all here to support Don in this new race or event in his life. I loved reading the comments today that many of you posted and I know they meant a lot to Don (and Heather).

Vernon sent Don a link to something I have added under Inspiration and Motivation. Please check it out, it's beautiful. If you have something that you think Don would enjoy, let's use this as a way to share it with all of us. Send it to Don via e-mail and we will get is posted up here.

Aloha,
Bob

Mission Possible: Badwater Ultra Marathon Movie Trailer

Don and Heather will be traveling to New York City soon as Heather's video, Mission Possible: Badwater will be shown as part of a film festival.

Here are the details of where to see the film. There is a trailer available for preview below as well as on YouTube. The film festival is the: New York International Independent Film and Video Festival (www.nyfilmvideo.com).

The film: "Mission Possible Badwater" will be shown at 10:05 pm on Sunday, March 2, 2008 at: the Village East Cinemas 181 2nd Ave. @ 12th St. (2nd Ave. & 12th. St.) in the East Village. Tickets can be purchased online at the above website or at www.ticketweb.com  866-468-7619

Mission Possible - Badwater Video Preview

A small group gathered for the premier viewing of the video work done by Heather this evening. By the end of the night, there was hardly a dry eye. It is 60 minutes of love, sweat, and tears. All that can be said is WOW! I sure hope many, many others get the opportunity to view this video. The video shows the crew, the other race participants who supported Don, and the determination, dedication, and triumph of the human spirit Don used in Death Valley this past summer. Heather captured all of that in an extremely well produced hour-long video. Great Job Heather! Don, you did pretty good too! :-)

Radio Interview with David Goggins

Don sent me a link to a radio interview of David Goggins. Click here to listen. This interview should be interesting to many ultra runners. Towards the end of the interview David mentions Don. There are a few mentions of H.U.R.T. here too.

If you have time, this same show interviewed David earlier this year when David talked about his first ever triathlon, Ultraman. Click here to listen.

Comfort Zone and Great Account of Don's Adventure from a Crew Member

I've been thinking a lot about what Don accomplished over the last several hours. It reminds me of what I used to tell people when I would ask them to step outside their comfort zone. Our comfort zone expands and contracts. It's dynamic. Don stretched his today and so did a lot of people around him. Comfort zones are neither good or bad. They keep us safe and protect us and the only way we learn as humans is to step outside or stretch the limits of our comfort zone. In my past, we used to routinely ask people to go as far as they could go and take one more step, whatever that meant for them. You see, comfort zones are personal. We each have a different one. Don clearly went as far as he could go and then he took several more steps. I am theorizing that Don spent much of the day outside his comfort zone and in doing so, will come away from this event a changed man. He will have learned more about himself today in a few short hours, than many people do in a lifetime. Great job Don! I look forward to hearing more about your learning and how this has changed you. I am grateful to know you.

Click here to read Mike's view on Don's race.

Don's Badwater Potluck

Several supporters of Don's gathered at Ho'omaluhia Botanical Garden this morning to wish him good luck as he leaves Wednesday, July 11th for the race. Cheryl made a large dish of pasta salad that had roasted turkey and a special dressing on it. It was clearly one of the best pasta salad's I have ever had--all three helpings. Additionally there were mochi, brownies, muffins and other goodies. Most importantly, good friends gathered including part-time Hawaii resident and Badwater Crew member, Leon Draxler.

Vernon's Idea of Death Valley--A Walk in the Park??

Apparently Vernon has some idea that Don's been way to stressed out about the harsh conditions of Death Valley. He sent this article to Don recently and was asking Don if they were going to get to participate in some of these same activities.

You can read why Vernon is questioning Don here.

A TRUE STORY: " Coach Bear Bryant"

Aloha Athletes !

Following is a true story, and although it has absolutely nothing to do with running or endurance sports, I felt it told a nice story.  It was sent to me some time ago by my good friend and Badwater crewmember Vernon Char, and is typical of how Vernon operates. Although it's a little long, please take a few minutes to read it. 

Don

Subject: A TRUE STORY: " Coach Bear Bryant"

At a TD Club meeting many years before his death, Coach Paul "Bear" Bryant told the following story, which was typical of the way he operated.

I had just been named the new head coach at Alabama and was off in my old car down in South Alabama recruiting a prospect who was supposed to have been a pretty good player and I was 'havin' trouble finding the place.

Getting hungry I spied an old cinder block building with a small sign out front that simply said "Restaurant."

I pull up, go in and every head in the place turns to stare at me.  Seems I'm the only white 'fella' in the place.  But the food smelled good.

So I skip a table and go up to a cement bar and sit.  A big ole man in a tee shirt and cap comes over and says, "What do you need?"  I told him I needed lunch and what did they have today?

He says, "You probably won't like it here, today we're having chitlins, collared greens and black eyed peas with cornbread. I'll bet you don't even know what chitlins are, do you?"

I looked him square in the eye and said, "I'm from Arkansas , I've probably eaten a mile of them. Sounds like I'm in the right place." They all smiled as he left to serve me up a big plate.

When he comes back he says, "You ain't from around here then?"