Constantina Tomescu Takes The Gold On The Womans Marathon.

Constantina Tomescu crossing the finish line of Women’s Marathon. (Photo Credit:Guo Dayue/Xinhua)

38 year old Constantina Tomescu Dita won the women’s marathon with 22 seconds to spare over her nearest contestant with the time of 2:26:44.
Around the halfway mark she broke from the pack, got herself a minutes lead and kept that to the end. she was half way around the birds nest stadium by the time the next two competitors entered it.

I love Madaline by Ludwig Bemelmans, I grew up on the book, and now I read them to my kids.
Kristina from Marathon Mama wrote a Madaline to Constantina, the Romanian gold medalist marathonista.
Since I stand behind the sentiment (and love Madaline) I am quoting in full.

On an old street in China
that was calm and serene
came dozens of women
to the marathon scene
They stood at the start
at 7:15.
The oldest and fastest was Constantine.

At three miles in
America wept
when poor Deena’s foot
went “pop” as she stepped.
She thought to herself,
all broken and hurt,
“I did a 5k.
Do I get a free shirt?”

Paula looked pained–
she would not be the winner.
Soon she grew thin.
And then she grew thinner.
“I am the mother who is supposed to wear gold.
Not that brazen, Romanian
38 year old!”

But up far ahead
that Constantine led
Amazed as she was,
she kept turning her head
to check for the pack
or Michael Phelps at her back
but she was alone
when she entered that track.

Constantina triumphantly showed them her stuff
as she henned all those chicks
with their downy white fluff.
She finished up first,
then showed them the door
when she jogged with her flag
for several laps more.

A mom’s got the record.
A mom’s got the gold.
It’s a beautiful, wonderful
thing to behold.
Ndereba and Zhou put on a good chase,
but they learned what it takes
to be in first place:
Have a kid before London,
and you’ll front the race

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