Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Do or do not...




When you have committed to a large project- you know that you are going to be faced with multiple challenges.
The biggest challenge is often simply getting started.  
You or others around you may question your motives, and even your sanity for following something that you believe strongly in. 

Once you are under way, you are often diverted with competing priorities and obstacles .  You might even face barriers as you are attempting to finish your project.

The Boston Marathon  is a huge “project” for a individual to take on- without any horrific distractions.
When you compete in marathon distance races, you are committing to hours and hours of running.  26.2 miles is a long enough distance that you can’t “fake it”, meaning  if you were a active and healthy individual you could probably drop into your neighborhood 5- 10k or maybe even a 1/2 marathon, race and finish, It might not be pretty, and you would feel pretty sore to run between 3-13 miles with little training, but you could "fake it".
Running your body for 26.2 miles, that means running four 6.2 mile 10k's in a row. It also means you have worked out the physical stamina needed, your dietary requirements, and often the biggest piece of the puzzle, the mental component. Staying focused, motivated, and listening to your body. Once those big pieces are taken care of what if you  have set your sights on competing at the Boston Marathon?

 It is a championship race  that requires qualifying race  times and requirements for runners to compete. It's too much to "fake it" you have to be prepared and have done the hard work just to get there.  Then you have to face the actual event. Obsticles? yup, hills? you bet several,  your body? the distance, sometimes the weather, all take their toll. Regardless of your finishing time your tired when your feet cross over the finish line.  
With the prolonged mental and physical drain  it is VERY  easy to get distracted, and in the unthinkable instance of the 117th running of the Boston Marathon bombs were  laid at the finish line.
Bill Iffrig- via London Telegraph
During the first explosion, you see  a 78 yr old runner Bill Eliff being knocked to his feet.  
 I guarentee you this runner, who had 3 Boston's already under his belt did not include bombs exploding on the side of the course when he was preparing for this event.  Despite the tremendous distraction and diversion of 2 bombs exploding, he completed the race.

We run, ride, race, create music, art, and new products to make our lives “better”- while completing our big projects, we like to cheer others like us on!   Together WE push forward. It didn't occur to Bill to not finish the race, he had already come so far. (!!!)
There will always be barriers trying to stop us from what we are driven to do, I can't bear to dwell on the horrific nature of the loss, and to have a beautiful historic tradition used as a platform for some depraved bullies attempt to interupt the successes of others.

I do believe we creatures, try most days to love, protect, and challenge each other, and when things get hard we cheer each other on to be the best we can be.  As a old friend reminds me   “Do…or do not, there is no try”-  Yoda

Today, start something good,

we are here cheering, and celebrating!



Links and credits:

Boston Marathon BAA.com
Qualifying information
Bill Iffrig: http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/04/15/177393410/boston-blast-man-knocked-over-by-explosion-got-up-finished-race

Photo credits
via London Telegraph:
Bill Iffrig: http://media.kens5.com/images/470*264/0415bill_iffrig.jpg
Start something big: vemo.com
Peace Train: cat Stevens  via dailymotion.com
Lack the courage to start- tamra engle

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