Be the light

 A race isn’t just a race for anyone, it’s a goal, a goal based off of a journey of progressive goals. This journey is unique to each one of us. 

In the fall of 2024 I initiated a challenge to some friends and family. The challenge was a commitment to running a relay team in two races, the Sinister 7 and Canadian Death race. The challenge was accepted by seven very different individuals. 

I don’t know the deep down reasoning for each team members commitment, but I know it’s different from one another. In fact, the reason for these challenges changes through our life cycle. Writing out “life cycle” sounds odd, but I think really puts it into perspective. If we look at our lives as a cycle it may be easier to visualize the fact that nothing is constant and there is an end…like a carrot in the garden, a the same time our reasons for doing what we do will change through time.

The physical and mental health aspects of training are an obvious; the challenge of pushing oneself to new limits and going beyond previous goals is a growth cycle. This is all a part of the why we run, but not the nuts and bolts of the individual push. We are all striving to succeed for our own individual outcome.

My objectives for this race started with getting my family and friends together to enjoy everything from the time together to the team camaraderie that this event brings to each one of us - to testing my mental and physical training and rehabilitation which I’ve put myself through over the past 7 years or so.

Without diverting off too far in this post, my race intention was very specific to soothing my soul with family time in stunning geographical areas and completing an event that brings my mind and body joy, excitement and something that allowed me to gauge the hard work that I’ve put into bettering my health…not to mention just trying to be outstanding.

Mediocrity is everywhere but choosing to recognize how it slips into our own lives and holding oneself accountable to be the extraordinary and go over and beyond to defy what many see as natural is a push for me…not to be a show off but to be an example.

 

Aug 18 (day 205) 

Acts of Kindness recorded - 564

Push-ups (& weights to strengthen upper body) - 14625, 

Sit-ups and or equivalents - 16205, 

Rehab and fitness - Squats & step-ups started May 28th - 2035

Kilometers (over and above daily function) - 1433.4, 6.4

Meditation/ inversion table  (min.) - 892,

Stretching/ rolling (min.) - 1320, 15,

Sparring/ grappling (min.) - 78, 

# of forms re-familiarized - 7.0

Form reps - 266, 

Form time (min.) - 742,

“Mastery” recite (min.) - 96 

Blogs - 27