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