certain that although Doug’s intentions seemed remarkably in sync with our hopes, he’d likely neglect to discuss the matter with his father. Who could blame him? Who cares about a bunch of old guys with nothing better to do on a perfectly good weekend morning than get up and run 26.2 miles? Obvious lunatics.

On Friday morning, the day before the race, I was getting ready with tapes, marker, the Jones wheel, and a few other items to go out and measure a new course. The phone rang.

“This is the chairman of the board of River Parks,” the voice said. “My son told me about your problem. You don’t have a problem. Just clean things up after the race and go to the park’s office on Monday and pay the park’s usage fee. Oh, and don’t forget to pick up an application for next year’s event if you care to do it again.”

I was speechless—a circumstance that occurs about as often as Saturn circles our sun.

TOGA!

What a pasta party we had! Legend opened his house to the public. There were runners, runners’ spouses, and water and aid station workers. We even got brave enough to invite some media types. Our secret marathon was no longer a secret. Now all we had to do was explain to the locals why we couldn’t advertise it. Saturday was among the most glorious November mornings ever: cloudless sky, no wind, perfect conditions. The gun went off precisely on time, as did some 50 runners. Five hours later, everyone had finished, including The Mule, The Legend, and five boys and girls from Cal Farley’s Boys’ Ranch.

Bob “The Legend” Lehew (left) with Rick “The Mule” Worley before the start of the race.

FRED EBRAHIM!

The kids were from 15 to 19 years old 3rd Annual and had had no more than a few weeks of training. Their coach, a former foot- LAH Mi A ball player who stands 6’4″ and weighs Or 220 pounds, also completed the mara- a thisa thon. Before this he’d neverrun farther Invitational than 10 miles at a time. wick eonetiting

The participants, mostly 50 Staters, Cal Farley’s Boys Ranch came from Maryland, New York, Indi- Saturday, November 18, 2000 ana, Kentucky, Michigan, Texas, Okla- 8:00 A.M. homa, New Mexico, and California. Tulsa, Oklahoma Ages ranged from 15 to 69. Some of | Sign up Early – Limited number the 50 Staters were on their second or 50 STATERS’ third 50 Staters’ circuit, not being sat- FAVORITE RACE IN OKLAHOMA isfied with a single go ‘round. gee ee

I’ve run marathons myself, but this MUSaTE Corti Coals group seemed a different species. They V Great Pasta Party shared a runners’ bond. They appreci- Contact: Bob Lehew ated what we had done fora marathoner 1510 ii 2oth at a Dear Petey 14 friend, and they showed their respect Fax (918) 749-2444 by showing up at the drop of the hat. email: blehew1960@aol.com

Where else would you find people traveling long distances to support, watch, or run with The Mule, just to say, “Hey, we care!’””?

THE MORNING AFTER

Monday morning arrived soon enough. With check in hand, I walked into the River Parks office. I paid the park fee for the previous Saturday, picked up an application for the 1999 race, and thanked the folks there for their hospitality. As I was leaving, the park manager asked, “What was so special about this event that so many people dropped everything to get here on this date just to run?” I looked at him as seriously as I could and answered, “These people are not joggers; they are not runners. They are marathoners. Mark off 26.2 miles at any place on the surface of the Earth, and they’ ll come to take a measure of it themselves.” I could tell that he was impressed.

The Mule concluded his world record setting marathon journey at number 200, which he ran at the Methodist Healthcare Houston Marathon in mid January.

Fred Ebrahimi THE SECRET MARATHON Mf 63

Warrior Tactics for Distance