I've been very fortunate to have been invited to speak at the Dallas White Rock Marathon over the last few years, Marcus Grunewald the race director and his staff do an incredible job putting on a world class event!
I flew to Dallas on Thursday, it was a little more difficult because of being on crutches, but the folks at Southwest Airlines were awesome! Since I could not have my leg propped up on the plane, by the time I got to the hotel it was hurting pretty bad!
Friday afternoon the expo opened and the place was packed! I gave my presentation at 1:00, my good friend Mark Bravo from Oklahoma City and the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon introduced me. I stood on the stage with my crutches and things actually went very well! I'm used to moving all over the stage when I speak but not this time. I lost my balance once and thought I might land in the front row of folks, but thankfully I was able to catch myself!
Afterwards I spent some time at the New Balance Shoe Co. booth and then headed back to my hotel to get my leg up. Friday night my wife Jill and our son Matthew arrived by car, we had a nice meal and Matthew and I had fun riding the hotel elevator up to the top and back a few times!
I gave my second talk on Saturday afternoon and it went very well, Jill and Matthew were in the front row, it was the fist time Matthew had ever heard me give a talk before and I think he kind of enjoyed it! After my talk, I spent a couple of hours at the NB booth selling and signing books, signing NB posters, taking pictures, and just chatting with folks. I really had a lot of fun and it was nice having Matthew there with me as he handled all the book money and he had fun helping me out!
Saturday night myself, Jill, and Matthew were at the Pasta Dinner (one of the best ones you will find at a marathon!) I had to sit up at the head table. There was only room for one more person so Jill sat down in the audience and Matthew sit next to me, on his right was Olympic Marathon Gold Medalist, Frank Shorter, Frank has been a friend of mine for many years and took soome time to talk Matthew, I don't think Matthew fully understood who he was sitting by and was talking to!
Also at the head table were my good friends Bill Rodgers and Bart Yasso and his wife Laura, always good to see old friends whenever I can!
Sunday morning, we were up early for a nice breakfast and then on our way home back to Austin. Thanks Marcus for the great weekend we had, keep up the AWESOME work you do!
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