Team Communication #4
Commonly Asked Questions
There are a handful of
common questions that pop up each Final Leg and I’d thought I’d take a moment
to answer what may be rumbling around in your collective minds. I know when I
participated in my first Final Leg, I had a bunch.
Can my spouse/significant
other/friend/family member travel along the Final Leg Route?
The short answer to this
question is NO, and here is why: we will have very little, if any real free time during our stay in Berlin, especially beginning June 14th, the first day of ceremonies. There frankly is no time to spend with anyone traveling along, or
following the team.
Being selected as a Torch Runner on a Final Leg Team is an
incredible honor, and one that only a very small percentage of LETR
participants ever get to experience. We are on a very focused mission – a job
if you will – to spread awareness for our athletes, the Games themselves, and
our incredible LETR movement. You will be meeting new friends for a lifetime from all over the
world, who you will really want to get to know and spend time with. If you have
someone close to you traveling along, it understandably becomes a distraction
and takes away from the experience and job you have been assigned to complete as a Torch
Runner. I hope you all understand this reasoning.
Here is what my wife and I
did on my first Final Leg as a runner in Austria. A few days before the Opening
Ceremony, she traveled to Austria and did a little sightseeing on her own. The night of the Opening Ceremony, I met her outside the
stadium just long enough to connect her with the family of an athlete, and the
spouse of another Torch Runner. The next day, she (and other Torch Runner
family members) were able to attend our Signature Fundraising event and cheer
us on (we hope to be able to do the same in Berlin). I did not see her again
until after my commitment to the team was completed. It worked
out perfectly.
Can my spouse/significant
other/friend/family member attend the recognition dinner on the final night?
Unfortunately, no, and for
many of the reasons stated above. More importantly, the cost of the recognition
dinner on our final night together is covered by the Local Organizing Committee
in Berlin and is solely for the Final Leg Team.
Can I fly into Berlin
early, or book a flight home on a later date?
Absolutely. As long as you and your program coordinate the travel and understand the cost of flights to and from Berlin. I
personally recommend staying later if possible, for all the reasons stated
above. We hopefully will be providing your flight parameters in the coming
days. We are waiting for a couple of loose ends to be tied up by the Local
Organizing Committee in Berlin before we give the OK to start booking flights.
Can I wear leggings/tights under
my running shorts?
No. For the purposes of
media coverage, and our own social media platforms it is imperative that we
have a sense of uniformity. If some individuals were to wear leggings/tights and others
did not, it is not the clean look we are trying to achieve. Now, if you are
like me, chafing can be an issue, especially when we run multiple segments
during the course of a day. If you too share that issue, we strongly recommend
wearing compression shorts that fit under your team running shorts. I
have experienced 100% success using this option.
Do I really need to be prepared
to run at a 10-minute-per-mile pace?
This is a 100% yes, and
for a couple of reasons. While our typical pace is comfortable for nearly
everyone, we have to be prepared for the unexpected and I use Austria as an
example. On the route I was assigned, we needed to start a ceremony a little
early to accommodate the dignitaries in attendance. That required us to run at
a much quicker pace than normal. I’m pleased to say that everyone on that
particular route was able to maintain that pace.
As I’ve said before, I
want everyone to enjoy every, single moment of our journey. If you’re sucking
wind because you’re not physically prepared, you won’t be having fun. I would
love if no one on this Final Leg Team needs to ride the “sag wagon” due to not being
physically prepared (with the exception of an injury, which can understandably occur).
Live by the adage, “if you
stay ready, you don’t have to get ready.”
Thanks to all of you for what you do, and please don’t hesitate to reach out with questions!
Mark
