I’ve shared
previously about the joy of meeting inspiring people through running.
People who
are inspiring because they run after character first, then success.
But since
the Boston Marathon bombings I’ve been learning about some folk and their
stories are fascinating. And not a gold medal amongst them.
I’d like to introduce you to four ……
I’d like to introduce you to four ……
“If you had told me five years ago, when I was
a complete non-runner, that I would be doing something like this, I would have
said you are completely out of your mind."
That
“something” is resigning from your job and having the courage to run 35 miles a
day taking you from the west coast of America to the east. 5,219 kilometers.
Raising $1.5m for clean water for 30,000 Kenyans.
http://support.worldvision.org/site/TR/TeamWorldVision/TeamWorldVision?fr_id=1931&pg=entry
Janji
“Our goal is not just to make great running
apparel, but to make the world a better and healthier place through running. Running
and giving go hand in hand.”
Mike
Burnstein and Dave Spandorfer started a company to produce running gear using
the color palettes inspired by the flags and countries the sale of this gear
will support.
Mike lives in
Boston and competed this year. After a 2:28 PB he wrote: “To me the Boston Marathon has always meant many things … many of these
were ruined by Monday’s tragedy but after seeing heroism and compassion
overcome fear, I have never seen the city closer.”
I’m lovin’ their gear. www.runjanji.com
At age 82 I
imagine myself enjoying hot chocolates whilst watching repeats of Richmond’s 20th
Premiership win. Not so Ed Whitlock, a
Canadian who at age 82 holds the marathon world record in his age group. His
time 3:15:54. Wow.
He was the
first person over 70 to break 3 hours and holds marathon and half marathon
records in 70-74, 75-79 and 80-84. More impressively he stopped running and only
took it back up again in his 40’s.
Looks like
I’ll have to do more running and less couch sitting!
Dick and Rick Hoyt
“Dad, when I’m running, it feels like I’m not
handicapped.”
I did meet
Dick but I’ve since read much more of their story. This is their beautiful statue, unveiled in Boston last month.
As a
parent, when you’re told that your son should be written off as a vegetable and
institutionalized …. well, I can only begin to comprehend. So when Dad says “lets go out and play” it
means something very different for Dick and Rick. How about 240 triathalons, 6 ironmans,
92 half marathons and 70 marathons (including this year’s Boston).
So what can
you take from these guys?
·
If
you hate running, give it a try – you might even run across the country one
day.
·
Think
about your sport and connecting it to fair trade goods.
·
Take
up running in your 40’s – and never think about giving up.
·
As
a parent, never say never.
Andrew
McKenzie
April 2013
April 2013
