Thursday, February 7, 2008

 

Steve Newton, Please Google Yourself

Is it strange that I have several posts rattling around in my head waiting to be written and it kept me up last night? Geesh. Being sick (and restricting the typing) drove me nuts. I had things to say. I've been waiting.... Here is one of them.

Great pals Tom and Amy invited me to the Spirit of the Marathon a couple of weeks ahead of time. I planned and made arrangements and made it through several days of single parenting living for that movie. Then about the day before or day of I say something stupid like, "should I get a ticket early?" Amy says, um "I'm pretty sure they're sold out." (she was probably thinking, you idiot!!) CRAAAAAAAAPPPPPP. I looked forward to this for 2 weeks and prepared and planned but did not get myself a ticket. What a moron I am.

So Tom, bless his heart, gets to the movie and asks people in line, anyone have an extra ticket? Have a friend at home who didn't pre-order who is heartbroken that she didn't get to come tonight. Some incredibly selfless, sweet man says, "your friend can have my ticket. I was going to come with a friend and he couldn't make it. If your friend wants it, she can have mine. I can come to the next showing." He hands over the ticket and won't take a dime for it!! Tom is on the phone to me and I am putting on just the essentials (lipstick and snow boots, of course) and am there in less than 10 minutes.

Can you believe the generosity of this perfect stranger?? Well, he must be a runner, so already, he must be decent, but still??? Can you believe this???

He said his name was Steve Newton. Only problem is, there are more than a couple..... I would really like to thank him and tell him how much I appreciated his generosity. I'm a new runner and the movie was incredible and motivating and the experience of another runner sharing it with me under such generous and neat circumstances made it so much better. Not to mention that I had been looking forward to this night for 2 weeks AND got to share it with great new running friends who went way out of their way to help me. Thanks, you two!!

So Steve Newton, will you google yourself and find this post so I can thank you? Should I just call a couple of them and ask if they are the Guy That Made My Month? What should I do??

# posted by Non-Runner Nancy @ 9:56 PM
Comments:
I love awesome, selfless people! Hopefully Steve finds your post. I didn't get to go, and can't make it to the encore on the 21st, so I can't wait for the DVD so I can see what everyone's raving about.
# posted by Blogger Topher : February 7, 2008 11:02 PM
 
Well, Steve Newton sounds like a good guy. Maybe he will Google himself and find this post, or maybe someone that knows him will read this post and pass your thanks along. If not you can always "pay it forward". That is my favorite way to repay the kindness of a stranger.

On an unrelated note, I love your idea about having a little core training competition to stay motivated. I think we should have a "plank off" at the end of the year, with a silly prize for the winner. See my latest post.
# posted by Blogger Database Diva : February 8, 2008 3:07 AM
 
you could try to look through local race results, find Steve Newton (and maybe there will only be one), find out what city he lives in and then call that one. Disturbing, huh?

Otherwise I vote for pay it forward...that is a great method.
# posted by Blogger ws : February 8, 2008 6:20 AM
 
That is just too cool of him.... and to not even take a dime for it!

If only there were more like him out there this world would be a better place!
# posted by Blogger Tim Wilson : February 8, 2008 6:50 AM
 
I agree, pay it forward. What an awesome guy!
# posted by Blogger Megan Hall : February 8, 2008 7:08 AM
 
That is such an awesome story.
# posted by Blogger Lisa - Slow & Steady : February 8, 2008 7:19 AM
 
Steve is awesome, there needs to be more people in this world like him. I say to "Pay it Forward", if he wanted the thanks, etc. he would have asked for it or charged for the ticket. He probably does not expect anything in return. As for Pay it Forward, that is a great movie, if you have not seen it, rent it.
# posted by Blogger Marathoner in Training : February 8, 2008 7:22 AM
 
WOW!! That is awesome! Wendy has a good point, go stalk to the local race results he's probably there somewhere, right? I mean unless your a runner you wouldn't go out of your way to see this movie . . . .
# posted by Blogger Marcy : February 8, 2008 7:30 AM
 
That's nice!
# posted by Blogger Jess : February 8, 2008 8:47 AM
 
That is awesome!!I hope that someday he sees your post!
# posted by Blogger J~Mom : February 8, 2008 9:10 AM
 
I just sent you an email -- Tom had found him and sent him a note this week.
# posted by Blogger Amy@RunnersLounge : February 8, 2008 9:41 AM
 
I love happy endings. This kind of stuff reminds me of the basic good nature of people. Thanks Nancy!
# posted by Blogger Wes : February 8, 2008 9:55 AM
 
I love happy endings too!

There are so many nice people out there! Steve Newton was a diamond in your day!

Glad you got to see the movie, I'm sure Tom and Amy enjoyed just as much as you. Here's hoping we can see it here in Canada.

I must google that....

Glad you got to go Nancy,

Cheers,
Laurel (Lily
# posted by Blogger Lily on the Road : February 8, 2008 11:30 AM
 
Oh my gosh, Tom found him. I'm so excited... What should I do for him?
# posted by Blogger Non-Runner Nancy : February 8, 2008 12:26 PM
 
Nice post, it's always good to see the human in humanity!

I missed the first showing too, was stuck in a car...very entertaining!

Have you tried Athlinks.com, you might find him there, don't forget to register yourself if you haven't aleady.
# posted by Blogger Who is SLB+? : February 8, 2008 1:21 PM
 
Hi Nancy

It is a truly amazing thing when you meet someone as nice Steve Newton. They are an all to rare breed these days and are in danger of being overrun by the masses of "ME ME ME" people that are everywhere. But I do believe that there are a disproportionate number of runners who fall into that selfless category. I know for a fact that you are one of them, as are so many of the people we blog with. I just think that it is so nice when nice things happen to nice people.. like you.

Best of luck with 9 on the 9th.
# posted by Blogger bill carter : February 8, 2008 3:41 PM
 
you must be seeing things. do nice people really exist? if so, steve newton is my quasi-nemesis for helping my virtual-nemesis.

may not make the 9 on the 9th. i'm resting until the 1 on the 1st in March.
# posted by Blogger scott keeps running : February 8, 2008 4:38 PM
 
Hi nancy! My version of 9 on the 9th has been posted with a race report. Thank you so much for this opportunity. It was super fun!!!! Let me know if you want me to design us some finishers medals :)
# posted by Blogger Christine : February 8, 2008 5:35 PM
 
wow that's amazing. I would love to see that movie but the nearest showing is 3.5 hrs away.
# posted by Blogger jkrunning : February 8, 2008 7:13 PM
 
This gave me CHILLS. What an amazing story!!!! I almost want to buy a ticket to the 2-21 show and pay it forward on your behalf.

That movie was beautiful and I'm glad you got to see it. What an angel Steve Newton is!
# posted by Blogger Kathryn : February 8, 2008 10:02 PM
 
Great story, it always shocks me when there is still awesome poepl outthere. It has to be karma, cause ur a sweetie :-)
I am glad you enjoyed the movie!
That is cool Tom found him.
LOL @ the lipstick and boots.
# posted by Blogger Viv : February 8, 2008 10:39 PM
 
I'm so glad you had an opportunity to see it. It was really one of the most motivating things I've seen since I first watched Sarah Reinertsen cross the finish line at the '05 Kona Ironman. Love it, love it even more now that I know how you got there.
# posted by Blogger chia : February 10, 2008 4:45 PM
 
thanks Nancy you got me out there Saturday was a great day. Finish in 1:32:26
# posted by Blogger DawnB : February 10, 2008 5:53 PM
 
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