Felix Carvajal from Cuba did not win an Olympic Medal yet he is known for his persistence and determination. On August 30, 1904, thirty-two athletes lined up for the marathon at the Olympics in St. Louis – the first ever Olympics held in United States. Felix was one of the participants. A postman in Havana, the five-foot-one-inch tall Felix was an amateur runner who decided to pay his own way to the Games.

The about twenty-five miles marathon has gone down in history books as one of the most insane ever. The participants had to not only endure scorching heat, billowing dust, and high humidity but also paucity of fresh drinking water. According to smithsonianmag.com, there were only two places where athletes could secure fresh water, from a water tower at six miles and a roadside well at 12 miles. James Sullivan, the chief organizer of the games, wanted to minimize fluid intake to test the limits and effects of purposeful dehydration, a common area of research at the time.

Eighteen participants dropped out of the race but Felix endured. The mailman from Cuba trotted along sometimes stopping by to chat with spectators and once even stopped near an apple tree to eat some apples! There are many accounts of the bizarre marathon but what clearly stands out is the tenacity of Felix and other thirteen participants who finished the race.

For an Olympic event, the 1904 St. Louis marathon may have been bizarre. However, we see similar scenarios playing out in our lives all the time. People want to invest for their future and start with gusto in that direction but give up owing to various difficulties. It is in times like these that one should remember Felix – the man who may not have won a medal but did not give up and finished the race.

Felix’s 1904 marathon is pretty much like investing – all about persistence. Small amounts of money invested in SIPs of mutual funds helps ensure that you achieve your goals by not giving up the marathon of investing.

Information contained in this article is not a complete representation of every material fact and is for informational purposes only. The recipient is advised to consult its advisor/ tax consultant prior to arriving at any investment decision.