During our volunteering for the Grizzly over the Grandfather Mountain Highland games, we met some very interesting people with some equally interesting phrases, a phrase that most of us have thought about but didn't put a name to in our journeys to the finish line.
Our Three Musketeers came up Beech Mountain huffing and puffing along with a friend named Mary. Mary also had an entourage, someone following her with water, food, asking, "Are you at KMAN yet?" I asked what KMAN was and laughed when he gave me an answer.
KMAN is that point in the race where you look at another smiling volunteer saying, "You're almost there" and want to say, "Kiss my ....... NOW!" Your entire body is screaming out in pain and you're mad, you don't want to take it out on a volunteer (you're glad they are there) but exhaustion, lactic acid, and lack of adrenaline make your brain uncensored. You're trying to finish and don't want to hear another, "You're almost there" or "You look great" or "Way to go," you just want to see a finish line. Luckily KMAN is usually just said in the mind.
As athletes, we are so glad for the cheering people out there, for the volunteers - it is these people that help us move past that KMAN spot and find that finish line. If you're cheering just a quick word of advice, don't say, "You're almost there" when there's still at least 10 miles to go in a run, if you do and see a sour look pass a runner's face, they've reached KMAN.
Jason, Ed and Brad all may have found the KMAN spot in each race, but each found that strength in themselves to move past that to the finish line. When asked after the race if they'd do it again, there's an immediate "NO!" Several naps and recovery time later, they've forgotten about that KMAN minute and if a little bird is right, "next year is already in planning." Have you ever gotten to KMAN in a race?
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