by Ray Fauteux

Created on: October 24, 2007

The path I was on was a rocky one and was leading nowhere.

I was well into my 5th beer and about 30th cigarette one July afternoon about 30 years ago. I was laying on the couch channel surfing. It was my usual weekend routine.

There seemed to be little of interest on and I ended up on the channel that was broadcasting the last day of the Montreal Olympic games. It was the closing stages of the Marathon. In those days, the marathon was a premier event and was normally the last event of the games. In this case, Olympic Stadium was packed as the closing ceremonies would follow immediately after the medals were presented to the marathon victors.

There was one runner who was far ahead of all the others with the Olympic Stadium in sight. It was pretty obvious he was going to win. I went to the kitchen, opened another beer, got a bag of chips and some dip, lit another cigarette and watched as that first runner entered the stadium.

I had little idea the next few minutes would change my life forever.

I was intrigued as the lead runner entered the stadium. I remember it so well. There was a slight drizzle of rain. The stands were "packed" with around 60,000 spectators who were there for the marathon finish and the closing ceremonies.

The runner had about three quarters of a lap to run inside the stadium before reaching the finish line. The ovation was deafening. As he neared the finish line, the next runner had yet to appear. It struck me how amazing it must of felt for him to experience that. To run all that way and finally cross the finish line.

I remember thinking, "I wish I could do that." Then I thought, "maybe I can do that." Then suddenly it was, "I'm going to do that! I'm going to run a marathon!

This, despite the fact that I had been smoking for the past 12 years and was in terrible shape, and knew nothing about running or how to train or diet for a marathon. I was so motivated by what I witnessed, that I made up my mind and that as they say, was that.

All I can compare it to is walking down the same path in the woods so often that you know every bush and stone and exactly what is around the next corner. Then one day you notice a path leading off in another direction. A direction you had never taken before. Everything you came across would be new. It was new territory. It was an adventure.

In that one instant, you have the option to stick to your routine, or take the path less traveled.

Fortunately for me, I chose the path less traveled and two days later began to run.

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