Miko Devedzic’s Post

Its been about 10 days since I attempted the 100 mile race…part 2…and I’ve been contemplating the right words to express. Every time there is a lesson, I just need to be truthful to my own thoughts to realize this. I can tell you it is a lot harder to write this email on back of not finishing the race. “Going half way is still good” I keep hearing – I sometimes say its very good…its like meeting half of last year’s budget (bit finance joke). It is not the fact that I was about 20 min late to 50 mile aid station that irritated me. It is not the fact that I did not give myself best chance of success by failing to wear contact lenses instead of glasses, not having waterproof clothing as I went through 45 miles over ankle mud or just poor navigation and getting lost for extra 6 miles. What irritated me is that I just had hard time accepting reality – I’m annoyed that not finishing annoyed me and it is even difficult to admit this. Spent a lot of time thinking about why I felt this way to try and give back some value for support I’ve received. As father of 3, watching them grow, each one of them was filled with enthusiasm for progress. How often did I see them fall while they learned to walk. Did they pout and be hard on themselves? Kids fail all the time and it does not impact them at all. They just get back up and try and try…and try again…without giving an inch to self doubt. At what point do we lose this mentality? Each time I do these types of events it is one person enter and another come out. It is reiteration for me of long-life lesson that failure is just delayed success, it is part of progress. Don’t forget how to fail and let the road to improvement be paved with failures – no matter what we are doing. I’m hoping that I have the strength to keep this mentality in all aspects of life and that you draw some positives for you. Thank you everyone for support and we’ve made great contribution to Juventu’d youth soccer with over 1200$ in donations. Race Stats: Distance: 56 miles Total time: 17hrs 26min Total calories: 8,143 Total vertical gain: 8,468 ft