"Don't Be Last" Fundraiser for Kids

I was recently "volunteered" (more on that in a future post) to run the 2007 Black Diamond Triathlon on September 23rd. Since I hate running, swimming and biking, I needed to come up with some motivation to actually follow through on this "commitment." Realizing how out of shape I am and that I won't win anything (which is pretty much my sole motivation in life), I needed to find some rationale for doing this.

Well, what better motivation than "the kids." We've all heard it before from our favorite athletes, celebrities, politicians, etc. who need some image enhancement because they beat their wife, got drunk and ran their $100,000 automobile into a lamp post, or took money they shouldn't have. They find the nearest charity, commit to a 15-minute photo op at the next fundraiser and profess how committed they are "to the kids." This is sort of the same thing.

I don't really care about triathlons, fitness, working out or getting in shape and would rather be playing video games, sitting on my butt or doing anything else but running, swimming or biking (let alone all three). But, like an athlete who supports a charity just for the image makeover, I'm going to participate in this triathlon for the kids.

My chosen charity is the Make a Wish Foundation (as in, "I make a wish that kids never have to run triathlons").

BUT I NEED YOUR SUPPORT!

So, here's the deal. The last place finisher in my age group over the past few years has averaged 1 hour 40 minutes. I WILL NOT BE LAST! My ego will not allow it. I'm asking friends and family to pledge a specific dollar amount for every minute better I am than the last place finisher. If you pledge $1 and last place is 1:45 minutes and my time is 1:35, you owe $10.

To protect all of you against a last place finisher who is completely inept, we'll set a ceiling for the last place finisher of 1:50. If last place is 2:10 minutes, we'll adjust that person's time to 1:50.

IF I am the last place finisher OR I finish in more than 1:50, you are all off the hook and I will contribute $10 for everyone who makes a pledge (up to $300 - after all, I've got kids of my own to feed).

I'll be providing regular updates on my training progress and more about how I got involved on this blog.

So, if you want to participate, contact me at notlast(at)comcast.net