Running helps me help others: Andrew's blog: Queens Baton Relay 2018 Commonwealth Games

Running with the baton

These blessings don’t come along that often, so when they do, you grab them with both hands.

Literally!

Anytime you get to do something that Kurt Fearnley is part of has to be cool.

The process began seemingly ages ago, with nominations and multiple round of selection. Once I acknowledged my application was in the system it was best just to forget about it and wait and see.

So imagine my surprise when I received the email that said “you’re in”. I remember the moment and even exactly where I was. I was in Chicago and it was the day before the Chicago Marathon.

I was sworn to secrecy. We weren’t allowed to tell anyone – family, friends, no one- until the official announcement. When it was finally public it was surreal. But it kept going up in layers of surrealness!

One day the uniform arrived. OK, that’s getting real now.

Then one day the information package with actual times and places arrived. Oh wow.

It's really happening! 'Surrealness' might not be a real word, but its what I felt!

Now to complicate things my work dates meant I was due to be away out of the country on the day, but with the kind permission of my boss I was able to skip home for a couple of days so I could participate. I'm used to marathons, but not this type: it meant leaving Europe on Wednesday evening, arriving Friday, running Saturday and then straight back to Europe again. More time in planes than anywhere else – and kept me on edge for any potential missed flights. But it was worth it. I've flown around the world to run marathons, but never flown half way across the globe to run a leisurely 200 metres before! Oh, the things we do!

That’s how special I considered this to be. Not even being across the globe was going to stop me from missing out.

The day arrived and excitement and adrenaline overcame me. Its a great cure for jet lag!

I arrived early morning at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre for the briefing.

Here I was surrounded by instant best friends! Some legends – like Olympian Steve Hooker - and , more impressively, some real community champions. Here I was rubbing shoulders with people who were literally saving others lives. Everyone had a chance to share their story. I felt pretty humbled. I was representing the YMCA and here were some of the most impressive people I could ever want to meet. Sure there was some television celebrities as well, but who cares when you're in this esteemed company.

Wearing the uniform meant instant BFF!

I say best friends because we immediately bonded. We were all high on adrenaline and eager to share the experience with each other, We laughed and giggled and everyone commented on their desire to avoid the ultimate embarrassment … dropping the baton!

Soon we were on the bus and dropped at our point. Briefings of what to do and expect seemed to go in a constant swirl. A special mention of the volunteers who were guiding us, helping us and driving the buses. Exceptional. Delightful. Quite amazing ambassadors.

"Pass the baton"

The actual run with the baton was short and seemingly over in seconds. Just 200m. I took the advice of the briefing team and made sure I walked some of it .. so I could soak it in.’

The baton itself was spectacular. Beautiful. Made with many unique elements and worthy of studying.

So with a hug and a thanks I was waved goodbye by the person who passed me the baton and then, with family and friends on the sidelines and cheering (thanks so much), off I went.

Special family time!

My venue for running my relay leg was special too. It was Albert Park, a course I have been lucky to run many times in events and especially the Melbourne Marathon and where I have watched so many Australian Formula One Grand Prix.

Its amazing what can go through your mind in such a short space of time. Id been preparing for this (on all those long haul flights to get there). I wanted to think of all those who helped me, and who I had been able to hopefully help. I wanted this to be an intentional time and it was.

Then it was over. It seemed like the fastest 200m I've ever run!

My 200m was a small part of a very long journey ... but I was a part of it!

We returned to the pick up point and shared stories in the bus and followed the others. It was such a joyous event. Total happiness. No sadness here at all. The sense of national pride was like how I remember being in Sydney for the 2000 Olympics. It was really “up”.