[Isabel participated in the 42 km race that was part of the Festival de la Santé on September 14. Translated by RW.] There were only about 9 minutes to go before the start and I still hadn't put on my skates. I wasn't sure about taking part. My mind was telling me to go back home. To do the 30 km easy skate instead. It was Bernard Doth who gave me the little push I needed to make up my mind. Thanks Bernard. I went to the very back of the pack and was the last to start. Slowly, safely... suddenly I heard bicycles coming down the hill behind me. I moved over to let them pass. I continued on at a turtle's pace till the Gilles-Villeneuve racetrack. There I began to to feel more confident, and I picked up speed. Far ahead I could make out a group of skaters. I shifted into fourth gear and worked very hard to catch them. On the other side of the Concorde Bridge my efforts finally paid off. But I was really surprised to see Rod in this group. Usually he skates so much faster! Thanks Rod for your altruism and for helping and accompanying those were skating slower. At last I could relax a bit... Other skaters joined our group, while others fell behind. By the time we reached the corner of St-Jacques and St-Laurent, near the end, the group was composed of Rod, Inga Petri, Michel Falk, and me. That was when I dropped out. I want to everyone for keeping me in your pack without asking me to take my turn pulling. Rod told me to take it easy! I didn't insist... :-)) From St-Laurent to the end I skated alone (kind of tired - it's exhausting trying to skate while constantly paying attention to make sure you don't slip...). When I got to Berri hill I checked my watch and saw I had just 10 minutes left if I hoped to finish in under two hours. I put everything into climbing that hill, then hurried to make it in time. 1 hour, 57 minutes. Yippee, I finished in time and didn't fall once! Thanks to all the group for your help and those little "pushes" that made all the difference (including Jonathan who told me I could do it...). See you next year! PS: It's thanks to Eddy Matzger that I had the courage to skate on such a wet course. His workshop allowed me to understand the technique of skating and to practise the alignment needed to keep my balance. Thanks Eddy! Isabel Camara