Our second gold medalist is David (aka MarathonManiac), who has been a distance runner since 1980, when he joined Frontrunners. Now, he has won Gay Games gold in his age division. This is another key aspect of the Games —- that they provide a great competitive outlet for athletes of all ages, not merely the young. With 91 marathons or ultras under his belt since his first marathon in 1989, David has a lot of experience to bring to the Games.
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As so often at the Games, David's victory is a story both of personal accomplishment and community support. Here's his account of the race: "Marathon day turned out to be cooler than it had been all week, and the course was mostly shaded through a large urban park. I burned through the first loop about 3 minutes faster than planned and paid for that with a markedly slower second loop. Most of my Frontrunner comrades had elected to do just the half-marathon, so as I neared the finish I was glad to hear them cheering me on from several spots in the final kilometer. Due to some disorganization, it wasn't until 10PM that night after the closing ceremony that I found out I had placed, but I had a good feeling at the finish line that I must've made it. So my elation was delayed; my friends made a bigger fuss about it than I did, which really gave me a boost."
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"Every Gay Games has been a wonderful experience. The entire city turns gay, the locals are friendly. Besides sport, there are all sorts of cultural and sightseeing things to do. Plenty of parties, too, though I'm past the age where that appeals. Winning isn't the ultimate goal of the Games; the goals of the Games are participation, inclusion, personal best. Everybody can and should participate in their favorite sport. I guarantee they will have the time of their life."
As the sign behind David says—be part of it!
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