"Strongman Agony Run" for Stëmm vun der Strooss

October 20th: one day after my 31st Birthday I will tackle the Fisherman’s Friend Strongman Run (the world biggest obstacle race) in Luxembourg: 22km of agony, mud, water and hurdles / a tough run for trained runners and hell for an untrained, lame runner like me.
If you don’t believe me, feel free to have a look what it looks like:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXAtZuwC1es

Every good story starts with a beer.
While having one or two, people challenged me to participate in this race and somehow, I accepted.
When I talked to friends the day after, trying to find an inspiration (well, more a way out of this mess), the idea came up to run to raise money as motivation.
Well, I decided to raise money for "Stëmm vun der Strooss" (http://www.stemm-vun-der-strooss.com), which is a non-profit organisation supporting less-fortunate people and helping them to integrate in the society. (Homeless, unemployed, RMG, asylum seekers, addicts…). Stëmm vun der Strooss offers different services from “Treffpunkt” (café-restaurant), medical consultations “Dr. Stëmm”, free clothes distribution “Kleederstuff”, social services and social estate agency etsc.

I can’t dance, I can’t run
Genesis sang in 1993 “I can’t dance”. In 2013 my song would be”I can’t run” (well I can’t dance neither).
I love sports, I love Muay Thai, I love skipping … but running I could just skip.
Many people say running is pleasure, running is good for you, running is blablabla…
Well, let me assure you running is not really a pleasure for a big guy like me… running may be healthy but not fun (for me).
Moreover, few days ago in a sports-shop a guy explained us that we are all heavy runners (nice way to tell us we are over weighted). Furthermore, I found out my running technic is ... rubbish and I have to relearn how to run.

You understand now: running is not only a physical challenge for me but as well a mental challenge.


THE BEST RUNNERS OF OUR GENERATION JOINED THE CAUSE
Apparently, shared pain is half the pain:
Many of my friends and colleagues think this run is crazy and they doubt about my mental health.
Few friends decided to join the run and to share the agony, without hesitation to prove that “together we run strong”, even though none is a runner or well trained. However, together we shall master the obstacles.

The first to join was Cyril JUSSAC, aka "Mad Cyril".
The heavy weight in running business: over 2m tall, used to play basketball at a competitive level - however 15 years ago. Since then Cyril became the master of short distance runs (100 m) to the next Chippy Shop around the corner.

Tim PANTALEONI the youngest runner to join till now (29years), aka the Italian Stalone. A real partner in crime: he did not long convincing... after one beer and two jokes, he joined spontaneously the cause.
Tim used to be in perfect physical Rambo-like shaped: actually he was the Rambo among punks... well he used to be :) Today, he cherishes a more conventional live-style: teaching pupils and driving his motorbike.

The last one to join is: Manuel QUAINO, aka the Chief. An ex-serviceman and father of two, who wants to prove that he still got it. After seeing the event on Facebook, Manuel contacted me, in the night (this man never sleeps), to join and to accept the challenge, as he believes shared pain is half pain.


We may not be the fittest runners (for the moment ;) ), however the most committed to tackle the hurdles and to make a difference with the fundraising.


SUPPORT US & STEMM VUN DER STROOSS
We would be very grateful for your support!
Your generous support will give us the motivation to push yourself that much harder ... and to tackle the hurdles in October.


SPECIAL CHALLENGE

- BRIGITTE'S Challenge:
Raise 888 euro for Stëmm vun der Strooss and we will run with a pink ("ballet") tutu (anyway you know what I mean)