God speed Zeena darling!

Sometimes when I am alone in the wee hours of night, I wonder at the meanings of "winning". Is winning all about crossing the finish line first? Does one recognize a "win" when hoards of cameras surround you and take your pictures that would be splashed in next day's newspapers? Does a person know she has won because she has a medal hanging from her neck?

When I read your thread where you shared your utter happiness over breaking your own record in Philly, it occured to me that winning is not just about medals and media and being the best of all. Winning is meeting the personal goals you set for yourself. Winning is trying harder to beat your previous best. Winning is getting up after each fall. Winning is to live to fight another day. Winning is finding inspiration from the deepest reserves of your very being, when no one else believes in you. Winning is ignoring the cat calls of hindoos, mirzaees, achoots, chamars and bhangis as they drive around in their nanos while you run gracefully past them.

Indeed, you have taught us that success should not be held hostage to the end result. Just being in the game is a win too...for you cant win if you are not in the game. I dont know whether you will win the Boston marathon or not, but you sure have won over this Bostonian with your resolve!

Thank you for making Pakistanis feel proud. Thank you for being a role model to young Pakistani girls. And as always, thank you for being the wonderful you!

All the best!



From Zeena:

[Topic started by Zeena on Jan 14, 2008 8:34:32 pm

My sweetheart Pakistani chowkies...

Let me share my happiness with you....

Yes, I broke my own records in November 2007 in Philly marathon by becoming the first Pakistani woman to finish Philly in a record time and then I became the first Pakistani woman to be qualified for Boston Marathon....I am running Boston Marathon in 2008..and am training really hard...it will be in April 21...

Trust me, my dream to be qualified for Boston marathon has come true and I am extremely excited about it....

My hard work paid off.....Thank you God....]