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~ The doorMarathoners' philosophy is: themore miles completed in practice,the less chance they will feel the''lVall'' slamming hard on their batteredbodies. It is the foolishdistance runner, the one who doesnot pay the price with weeks of hardtraining prior to a marathon, whowill be most vulnerable to "hittingthe wall:'Completing a marathon, notnecessarily winning one, is the goalof every courageous runner thatdares to line up at the starting line.The idea of sprinting through thefinish line flashes through runners'minds as they mentally rid anydoubts of not finishing the great testof human endurance.Completing a marathon, whichresults in a higher self-esteem anda joyous feeling of accomplishment.reigns supreme. The ability toescape the "Wall" brings immensesatisfaction to runners because themiles run in practice have condi·tioned them so they won't comeface-to-face with the ilwisible "Wall."After finishing a gruelingmarathon, competing in anotherZ6.Z-mile race is the furthest ideafrom a marathoner's mind. It willtake close to a month for the run·ner's body to recuperate from thephysical punishment innicted uponit by his burning desire to be able 10say, "I completed a marathon."But this attitute does not lastforever. Runners get "marathonfever" all over again and its back tothe roads and to the running storefor new running shoes, because it istime to train for another marathon.The long hours and miles involvedrunning in a marathon is wellworth it - even if it means "hittingthe wall." Don Rondeau •,\fen·1I Crnlill CounlryPelleor 10".Aody lIar..eyIlOn-filcorl08'llilbChrl" "'llIlamli"like "nUIO_lIuJhallly KlogPori c.....y lo...:l3rd361h~Ofh8thRig Sky CoofereuceTf.hOut in iront.,u the Port ea....y 10..1I.,lon.l, Chrl.WIIU••" lOtrugglu up • bill. WIUI•••flubbed Oillt In the e~·ent, wb.leh had18T ruuue....od 29 lea.1I co.peUng luII. (Photo by 8. Spiker)Men's Cross Country 181