Don Fessman Returns  

Don and I are happy to report that we have put our house in Avalon, NJ on the market for sale and our plan is to move back to the Wilmington area as soon as it sells.  Don is really looking forward to running with you.

                I treated Don to a 19-day trip to Greece & Turkey in Oct./Nov., 2008, with a run in the Athens Classic Marathon tacked on at the end.  This wonderful opportunity was right in front of us, and Don couldn’t NOT run it.  The training started months before & he put his all into it.  He continued his runs all through Greece & Turkey, to rack up the miles and get himself in shape.

                One particular run was at 2:20am!  We were island-hopping from a small ship for seven of the days.  Don awakened and quietly announced that he was going for a training run around the island.  This was nothing new to me.  As you know, time on your feet is very important to a runner, and whatever practice training he can get in before the Marathon is to his credit.  So he put on his running clothes and running shoes and was out the door by 2:30.  He’s made so little noise to disturb me that I had no problem falling back to sleep.  This was especially nice with it being so peaceful, warm, and cozy under the covers.  However, I am awakened again fifteen minutes later by the sound of the ship’s engines and the thrusters, evidence that our ship is leaving the port!  But wait.  Shaking the grogginess from my body, I realize our predicament.  The boat is leaving and my husband is still running on the island.  We cannot leave him behind!

I arise quickly, turn on the light and I dress hastily.  I’ve got to find the Captain or First Mate or someone with the authority to go back and find my husband.  I run downstairs to the main deck and race around but there is no one in sight and the boat is locked up tighter than a drum.  I have no idea where the bridge is or how to get to it, but by golly, I do know I have to find someone to help me.  I run to the bottom floor.  No one.  I run to the top deck.  No one.  I race through the lounge on my way to the rear of the boat and as I pass, I hear a television playing very softly.  Looking over in that direction, my heart lurches as I see Don, sitting there watching television!  You see, the ship was completely buttoned up, so no one could get on or off.  He wasn’t sleepy enough to come back to bed and besides, he did not want to disturb me.  Whew!

                Fast forward a week or so and we are flying from Istanbul back to Athens.  Our excitement is building and Don is ready for the race.  The course would follow the original one, from the Plains of Marathon, and finishing in Athens at the Stadium.  Don’s stats are as follows:  This was his 65^th overall marathon, and he completed it in 4:29:24.  Chip time was 4:28:26, requalifing him for the next two Boston Marathons!  We were thrilled!  In his age group 70 to 79, he was 8^th out of 19 runners.  Overall placement was 2226 out of 3825 finishers.  Way to go, Don!  As for Boston, this will be his 24^nd overall.

                Cross your fingers for us in Boston.  Hal Clouser has graciously arranged to be at our hotel with us to lend moral support and to get Don across the finish line.  What we don’t know is their means of transportation across the finish – skate board, grocery cart, or will it be their own four feet?

                Wish us luck!   We’ll see you soon! 

Cindy & Don Fessman