Alaskans and Texans share the common
trait of true grits
Whether racing in the Iditarod or Tour
de France, it is hard for them to quit
The Tour de France at 3500
kilometers is longer raced in the summer time
But the Iditarod is still a thousand
miles mushing through freezing climes
Both races award the last place
finisher the in lantern in red
Motivation to finish when there is
not a chance of winning and quitting instead
Lawson Craddock on the first day of
the race crashed and broke his shoulder bone
From hopes of being a supporting team member he was tossed into the pain zone
Unable to stand on his bike,
bleeding from a facial gash
Looking at 21 days of pain from his
early crash
Quit, not a chance no way to waste
all that training by refusing to advance
On winning he had not a chance
Only the motivation to finish and
raise funds for a velodrome in his home state
200 grand raised a rouge lanterne to
his painful journey sate
Not all racers finish this challenging
exhausting race
Great tribute to a Texan, the first American
to finish in last place.
© July 30, 2018 Michael P. Ridley the
Alaskanpoet
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