Feeling Depressed? Uninspired? Here is some Magnificent Perspective
April 10th 2008 07:58
There’s a beautiful Native American saying from the Osage tribe, that goes, ‘Strive to be a person who is never absent from an important act.’
Today I was present at what I think was possibly a once-in-a-lifetime event, thanks to my husband who nurtures his personal obsession with running like it's an orchid he's hand-rearing. He took the day off work today to join Dave Heeley, an Englishman who is running seven marathons on seven continents in seven days. Today was Dave’s fourth marathon – he’s done Mount Pleasant in the Falkland Islands Antartica, Rio de Janeiro in South America, Los Angeles in North America, today Sydney’s Centennial Park, tomorrow Dubai in Asia, then Tunis in North Africa, finishing on Sunday in London.
Imagine that. I mused to a lady standing next to me this morning at the start that I don’t imagine I could do shopping on seven continents in seven days. The jetlag…. Just think of it.
But here’s the thing: Dave is (in addition to being an incredible athlete, my god the body on the man…) blind. I know. It sort of made my protests this morning that I’ve had a little flu … sound somewhat lame.
Dave runs with his running partner Malcolm Carr, a lean looking fellow with a gold hoop in his left ear. Dave is running to raise awareness of visual impairment all over the world and to raise money for Guide Dogs for the Blind Association. This morning, there was a very modest turnout, mostly of members of Achilles, a running club which pairs sighted with blind runners and walkers. An invitation had gone out for anyone who wished, to join Dave and Malcolm on their 10 or so laps of Centennial Park to make up the 42km marathon.
I admit this sort of thing really does it for me. Having grown up with a hard-of-hearing sister, I do find people who defy the stereotypes of disability inspiring in a way that makes me want to extend myself and push my own self-limiting beliefs about what I can and cannot do. Most of us live our lives totally unimpressed by the multitude of sensory and physical gifts we have – we squander our fitness, whinge about sore backs, complain the music’s ‘too loud’ or the view isn’t spectacular enough… when (oh I know I sound like a sappy dag) we can run, we can dance, we can hear, we can see… sometimes it takes someone like Dave to remind us that the things we think we cannot do, are only that way because we say so.
I did three laps of the park, mostly with a lump in my throat.
There’s an amazing story I read in one of Jack Caulfield's books about a 63 year old grandmother Laura Schultz who picked up the back end of a Buick to get it off her grandson's arm. She said that she didn't like to talk about it because it challenged her beliefs about what was possible. 'What does it say about the rest of my life? Have I wasted it?' she asked.
Today four of the seven people who ran all the way with Dave and Mac completed their first marathons. These were people who pitched up to run a casual few laps and ended the day with a marathon under their belt. Humbled, I tell you. We all felt humbled in the presence of something magnificent. There was a lot of singing, 'Her name was Lola... she was a show girl...' as the little troupe ran past, time and time again, keeping one another going. Even Waltzing Matilda made it into the repertoire as well as the theme from the Magnificent Seven. I did some cheerleading. I also spent some time talking to Nick and Charlie, two blind runners from Achilles who have both done the Kokoda trail, Mount Kilimanjaro and the Comrades. Yeah, folks. Perspective.
Being part of this little event today made me ask myself what else I am capable of doing, and what I am not admitting I am capable of. After today I think there's a little half-marathon out there with my name on it. I've been whining I can't for ages ... but after today, maybe I can.
What are some of the things you think you can’t do?
Check out his website on www.7mm.org.uk
www.guidedogs.com.au
[www.joannefedler.com
Today I was present at what I think was possibly a once-in-a-lifetime event, thanks to my husband who nurtures his personal obsession with running like it's an orchid he's hand-rearing. He took the day off work today to join Dave Heeley, an Englishman who is running seven marathons on seven continents in seven days. Today was Dave’s fourth marathon – he’s done Mount Pleasant in the Falkland Islands Antartica, Rio de Janeiro in South America, Los Angeles in North America, today Sydney’s Centennial Park, tomorrow Dubai in Asia, then Tunis in North Africa, finishing on Sunday in London.
7 Magnificent Marathons trajectory
David Heeley and Malcolm Carr
Imagine that. I mused to a lady standing next to me this morning at the start that I don’t imagine I could do shopping on seven continents in seven days. The jetlag…. Just think of it.
But here’s the thing: Dave is (in addition to being an incredible athlete, my god the body on the man…) blind. I know. It sort of made my protests this morning that I’ve had a little flu … sound somewhat lame.
Dave runs with his running partner Malcolm Carr, a lean looking fellow with a gold hoop in his left ear. Dave is running to raise awareness of visual impairment all over the world and to raise money for Guide Dogs for the Blind Association. This morning, there was a very modest turnout, mostly of members of Achilles, a running club which pairs sighted with blind runners and walkers. An invitation had gone out for anyone who wished, to join Dave and Malcolm on their 10 or so laps of Centennial Park to make up the 42km marathon.
at the start of the 42km race in Centennial Park today with Adam Spencer of ABC Radio
I admit this sort of thing really does it for me. Having grown up with a hard-of-hearing sister, I do find people who defy the stereotypes of disability inspiring in a way that makes me want to extend myself and push my own self-limiting beliefs about what I can and cannot do. Most of us live our lives totally unimpressed by the multitude of sensory and physical gifts we have – we squander our fitness, whinge about sore backs, complain the music’s ‘too loud’ or the view isn’t spectacular enough… when (oh I know I sound like a sappy dag) we can run, we can dance, we can hear, we can see… sometimes it takes someone like Dave to remind us that the things we think we cannot do, are only that way because we say so.
And off they go - at the start of Marathon no. 4
I did three laps of the park, mostly with a lump in my throat.
There’s an amazing story I read in one of Jack Caulfield's books about a 63 year old grandmother Laura Schultz who picked up the back end of a Buick to get it off her grandson's arm. She said that she didn't like to talk about it because it challenged her beliefs about what was possible. 'What does it say about the rest of my life? Have I wasted it?' she asked.
Today four of the seven people who ran all the way with Dave and Mac completed their first marathons. These were people who pitched up to run a casual few laps and ended the day with a marathon under their belt. Humbled, I tell you. We all felt humbled in the presence of something magnificent. There was a lot of singing, 'Her name was Lola... she was a show girl...' as the little troupe ran past, time and time again, keeping one another going. Even Waltzing Matilda made it into the repertoire as well as the theme from the Magnificent Seven. I did some cheerleading. I also spent some time talking to Nick and Charlie, two blind runners from Achilles who have both done the Kokoda trail, Mount Kilimanjaro and the Comrades. Yeah, folks. Perspective.
Blind Dave and Mac pre-race media conference
Being part of this little event today made me ask myself what else I am capable of doing, and what I am not admitting I am capable of. After today I think there's a little half-marathon out there with my name on it. I've been whining I can't for ages ... but after today, maybe I can.
What are some of the things you think you can’t do?
Check out his website on www.7mm.org.uk
www.guidedogs.com.au
[www.joannefedler.com
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As I read your post I wondered why athletes such as Dave Heeley are not on the front pages instead of footballers/swimmers etc who like to punch people in the face.
Inspirational indeed. I got a little teary when you wrote about the people who turned up to do a couple of laps and completed their first marathon. How powerful the atmosphere must have been that day.
And I shall await news of your own half-marathon!
Jayne
Comment by Miswanderlust
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Thanks for sharing this:
‘Strive to be a person who is never absent from an important act.’
I needed to read this today.
Mis