Oh to run again !!!

Hi Readers,

Another post in less than a week, that's what school holidays are for!!

Today it was so easy to find an idea to post about, but I must admit that when I woke up I had no idea whatsoever.

I've spent the past few days in Qld visiting two of our boys, our daughter in law and Grandson and every opportunity to spend time with them has been just the greatest thing.

This morning when I was packing up my things I thought I'd go for one last quick walk (okay, hobble ) up to the beach to look out over the ocean as it was yet another glorious morning up here.

To my surprise I found that the annual Gold Coast Marathon was on, which I knew, but I wasn't aware that it came down as far as where my digs are.

For those who have known me for a while, you are aware that I once was able to run and that I did it quite a lot. Obsessively as Jen would often say !!

And this was my usual response, but I'm sure that it always fell on deaf ears !!

I was like a little kid in a lolly shop again as I have run a few marathons back in the day, and the Gold Coast Marathon is the one I enjoyed the most. A cracking course and always something to see. The runners are always close to each other, or at least the ones as slow as me were ! Where I was standing on the course was the 15km mark, and watching the runners glide/stomp/walk/shuffle and struggle past me only made me feel so inspired by their efforts.

And Readers, there was a slight hint of jealousy.

Alright, I admit it. I was so bloody jealous !!!!!

But that's no-one's fault but my own and I can only be grateful that I was able to do it for as long as I did.

Just watching and listening brought back so many vivid memories. Just the sounds of the hundreds of shoes pounding the asphalt was a sound that I haven't enjoyed for a number of years, but it came back to me immediately. 

This next bit I don't expect you to understand, but even just watching the backs of runners and the backs of their shoes was another vivid memory that flooded into my mind.

Why?

In my experiences, when the fatigue really kicked in it was too hard to look around and enjoy the scenery, so I'd focus on what was ahead of me before my head totally hit the ground.

There was also the constant chatter among the runners, most of it encouraging and pulling people along. The encouragement given out from fellow bystanders was such a joy to hear, people screaming out to random. runners just to give them some encouragement for the next few hundred metres. Believe me when I say how much that helps.

I wasn't going to make this post a deep philosophical assessment, but is there something in there for all of us?

Just to make a little effort to be that tiny bit more encouraging or accepting of those we encounter from day to day?

I know that when I was checking in at the airport the lady in charge of the queue where you put your belongings in the tray was extremely flustered with some demanding passengers, so when it was my turn I just said something like "Thank you, you're dong a great job". Well, she stopped and stared at me and I thought she was going to yell at me, but all she did was stay calm for a few seconds, smiled and breathed out saying "Thank you".

I hope I changed her day for the next few minutes at least.

Anyway, back to the marathon.

In a previous post I talk in more detail about some of my marathon experiences and how they have given me a positive mindset that has continued to this day.

If you want to read about that you'll just have to scroll through my previous ramblings! 

It goes without saying that I'd give my right leg to be able to run again ( also, if I gave my right leg I might get a better one that works!!) So, for the meantime I'll just focus on learning to walk properly again and see what happens from there. But just by watching all these runners of all shapes and sizes plodding past made me realise how lucky I have been to have been able to do this earlier in my life, rather than never experiencing it and forever wondering what it would be like.

So Readers, another little message, don't forever wonder, get out there and try it.

It doesn't have to be marathon running. It could be any sport, hobbies, adventure or whatever. It could be as basic as watching that movie you've always thought about, or read that book. Ignore the pessimism and give it a crack!!

One of the pictures that I've collected over time that continually resonates with me.

When my ankle really started to get bad, I found that I couldn't run on the flat, but for some reason I could do hills, which was all I did for a few years. They always taught me about never giving up. Never will I complain about going up a hill again, I'd give that right leg away again to do it!!

A running message, but in a context that we can all apply to everything that we do.

This image sits on the desktop of all my devices. It sums up what running gave to me.

And another graphic that is on all my devices, and also on the wall in the room wherever I work. Unless I do something every day I feel like a sloth and am restless until I've had my fix.

Readers, I've really indulged myself in something that is/was an absolute passion of mine, but it is the thing that has given me so many life lessons. Perhaps those thousands of hours on the road gave me the perfect 'think time', because I always was a much more relaxed and organised person after a run. Jen would often sense this and just tell me "You need to go for a run!!" I think it was for her sanity as much as mine.

When we lived in Ballarat I ran 3 times, sometimes 4 times a week with a running group, and we even had a monthly newsletter. The following article was written one day and it sums up more than just belonging to a running group.

Take out of it whatever message you can, I refer back to it constantly and have used it with colleagues and at conferences many times.

Finally Readers, some random snaps from the Gold Coast Marathon today.

While I'm sitting in the airport lounge writing this I have seen quite a few passengers still in their running gear, some still wearing their race numbers boarding flights. Obviously they are in a rush to catch flights, I'd hate to be sitting next o one of them!!

Whatever floats your goat!!

At the 15km mark, been going for more than 2 hours and only a third of the course done. Hats off to people with such resilience!!

This lady was running the course with a plastic bubble costume. Withe wind drag it was making things very hard for her.

By my reckoning this bloke still had more than 2 hours to go and he was already doing it hard. No criticism here, just respect.

I was just full of admiration for every person tackling this event. So many looked like they would struggle to complete it, but at least they were having a crack. 

Once again, they could have my right leg.....🦵

Just wishing I could be out there too, but if not, then maybe I can direct my energies elsewhere.

This was the pacesetter for the group hoping to complete it in 4:30. I love the fact that he can still inject some humour into such a taxing physical event.

A view that I have experienced so often. I'd give anything to experience it again but am realistic enough to acknowledge that that time has passed. How lucky I was to have at least experienced it.

Well Readers, 

A lighter read this time around, based purely on experiencing something that has had some of the greatest influences on my life. And my body!!

My only philosophical statement for this post is for you to think back and consider the formative events and experiences in your own lives, what have they taught you , do you still engage in them etc. Who knows, the next experience could be just around the corner for you. I'm taking on that attitude, I don't know what it will be but I hope there is something coming.

I'm rushing now as my flight has been called and I haven't gone back and checked for typos etc, so I'm sure you'll find them for me!!

Another week of holidays, so hopefully another post or two.

Until my next post,

Cheers 😁 🏃‍♂️