If you can run, then run!!

NEPHEW WILL STEAMS AHEAD ON THEIR DAILY MORNING RUN, KANGAROO INN AREA SCHOOL

They were the words fellow racer Greg offered me at the 25km mark of the marathon, the 3rd and final leg of our Ironman.  With about 15km to go my legs were hurting, and the thought of walking with my friend up ahead, looked pretty appealing!  I slowed to a walk when I reached him. But he wasn’t having a bar of it – “If you can run, then run. That’s how you finish ahead of people.”

So on I pushed – firing the legs up again, Greg’s encouragement had helped me find a little more energy, another wind - perhaps a 10th wind for the long day…

Months on those words have stayed with me, and the more I reflect on them, the more I realise how right he was. (Even more so when my 6 year old nephew Will - pictured in this blog - took no mercy smashing me on laps round the school oval!)

How often do we conform to society, to those around us? Slow to the pace others are travelling, or a standard of mediocracy?

How many times have you given less than 100%? Sometimes we need to take the pedal off, don’t get me wrong, but it should come from within, not by influence of those around us. 

Does it make it right – does it make it our pace?

Hell no! If you can run, then run.

If for no other reason - do it for those who would give anything just to be able to run...

(Originally published - 17th September 2015)