2004 VIA Rehabilitation Relay Race

Report by Brother Craig Johnson

Year 9 is now behind us and safely chronicled in the stat books. Another highly successful jaunt from Calistoga to Santa Cruz recently concluded on Oct. 23/24. 199 miles of sights, sounds, smells, laughter and delayed onset muscle soreness. Beautiful!

The rainy weather didn't hurt us much, in fact, it probably brought other teams closer to our style of grunge play. We don't sleep much anyway, so the fact that there wasn't a dry patch of earth to throw a bag on was another par for our course. We ran short, with 11 this year, and we lost one runner to a calf injury as he began his second of three legs. Mettle test time. I can't speak enough to the character of the individuals who ran this year. Of the 10 runners who completed the race, seven ran more than just their three assigned legs and all were willing to do whatever it took to get the job done. The can-do attitudes and selflessness were a sight to behold. It absolutely exemplified the core of who we are as a team, year after year. We know we can't do this alone, but we also know, just as assuredly, that together as a team, we will not be denied. Period.

For the stat conscious: we came in 114th out of 241 teams; we ran the 199 miles in 28:31:43 and were 4th in our "Law Enforcement" division; we donated $3455 to VIA from this year's race donations and a couple of poker tournaments (which represents 12-14 camp sponsorships, depending on the child's needs) ; no one got seriously injured and everyone hurt then and for days after, but has already forgot.

I'd like to thank all the contributors who have helped make this venture such a huge success time and time again. To our Union for the entry fee on the runner's behalf; to the individual donators who contributed to our benefactor, VIA Rehabilitation Services, so that Santa Clara's special population children could be afforded the opportunity for potentially life altering camp experiences at Camp Costanoan; to Jacqueline and Lindsey, our VIA volunteers, for staffing our runner's exchange and the use of the VIA van, to Mission City Car Rental for donation of the team's second van. Without the kindness and generosity of all of you, this couldn't be done. And to the train on the track: Jon, Pat, Rick, Rob, Dave, Nick, Augie, Matt, Marcell and Bill, without the engine, the "iron horse" can't push on. It was an honor.

Anybody free on the 15th and 16th of October, '05?

Later,

CJ

12/03/2004