Thursday 3 November 2011

Fearless

Inspiration is always all around us. 
Whenever I walk into my library, I am surrounded by the inspiring biographies and autobiographies of politicians, scientists, philosophers, artists and athletes.  However, no matter how well written a story, most of the time, you really don’t know the man/woman personally. The book is generally written after he/she have achieved their distinctions and although they may tell you about their struggles, most of the time, we did not personally know them while they went through those struggles. We only see the finished product in the book. 
So, what really inspires me is when I meet an ordinary person, much like myself, and then see them break all boundaries and achieve spectacular success.   
I am truly inspired when I meet such a person in the early stages of their career because I get to watch them grow into that which I want to become.  It tells me that, I too, can do what he/she has done.  It is sometimes more inspiring to watch a work-in-progress.
I first met Heather Howells on the internet.  Both of us were training for the 2009 Comrades Ultra Marathon.  Both of us were scared and needed to share our concerns and anxieties about the gruelling 89 km Comrades.  Heather and I have similar running histories.  We both started running pretty late in life, Heather at the age of 40. She ran her first 21k in 2006 her first 42.2k in 2007 and by 2009 she was ready for the 89k Comrades in South Africa.  We used to exchange e-mails all the time and share our running schedules. 
Heather works as a Labour and Delivery Nurse in Honolulu. She works 12 hour shifts and so scheduling Comrades training was a challenge for her.  She always keeps saying that she lives in Paradise and the pictures on her blog are a testimony to that. 
I personally met Heather for the first time, the day before Comrades 2009, which she went on to finish.   
Within a year of Comrades, she registered for the 250 km/156 mile Kalahari Augarbies Extreme Marathon (KAEM).  The KAEM is a self-sufficiency run held over 6 legs in 7 days with set distances for each day ranging from 28km to 75km.  She had to carry all her supplies, clothes and safety/survival equipment for the duration of the event in a bagpack on her back for the duration of the event. There is no outside assistance.  The temperatures in the Kalahari desert vary from 40 degrees Celsius during the day to single figures in the evenings.  Tents to sleep in and a limited amount of water to drink are provided for.      
In a matter of 4 years Heather went from a 21k to the finish line of a 250km extreme marathon in the Kalahari! 
I think that if we are to only train for a 21k, then the 21k seems hard.  The minute we register for a 42k, then the 21k becomes just a training run.  When I registered for my first Comrades, the 42k became a training run but Heather went on to push the limits and she made the Comrades distance into a training run.
I often find that when I plan to run a 10k, I am tired at the end of 10k and find that I cannot run a step further even to save my life.  However on the day that I plan to run a 50k, I somehow manage the 50k.  
I think we make our own barriers in our own minds.  For many years it was widely believed impossible for a human to run a mile in under 4 minutes.  Yet in 1954 Sir Roger Banister ran the mile in 3:59.   He had broken through the “4 minute mile” psychological barrier and then within 56 days John Landy ran it in 3:57 and then within 3 years 16 other runners cracked the 4 minute mile. 
Sometimes, it is just a change in our thinking that makes all the difference.  Banister wrote in 1956,   “Though physiology may indicate respiratory and cardiovascular limits to muscular effort, psychological and other factors..set the razor’s edge of defeat and victory..”
There is a story I love about Emperor Akbar: He drew a line on a wall and asked his courtiers to make it smaller without touching it.  The courtiers were at a loss.  How could they make the line smaller without touching or cutting it? Finally Birbal, the Grand Vizier, stood up and drew a longer line next to it and the first line became automatically smaller.  Akbar’s line was neither touched nor erased.
This perhaps, is then the Art of Life. I need to awaken a higher state in my life alongside the lower one.    
My friend Heather is simply fearless.  As Shakespeare put it, “Age cannot wither her, nor custom stale her infinite variety.”  Heather simply continues to draw new longer lines on her canvas and she keeps inspiring me to do the same on mine.  Aloha Heather and Keep running my friend.


21 comments:

  1. just brilliant!!

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  2. Cheers to Heather! and thanks for sharing this, Amit.

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  3. that's amazing .
    I agree with you Amit the day u plan for 10k u can't run more. it's self created barrier. . .
    But Heather's feet is awasome.
    and sure it inspires.
    Thanks Amit for sharing.

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  4. Good article Amit about breaking mental barriers

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  5. Amazing stuff and hats off to heather . I completely agree that we mentally get tired at the end of our target distances. The last 1-2 kms is always a pain whether its 10k or 50k .

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  6. Great article as always Amit. very thought provoking. Thanks for introducing us to an inspiring person like Heather. Best. Danny

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  7. AMIT, You always amaze me by your write up. When I commence reading, I am unable to guess whats coming next. looking forward to a suspense story some time......and of course, inspring stories to continue !!!!!

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  8. Amazing .. This is what I wanted to read...

    This will make a difference... in my running.
    Amit - I had planned to complete 500 kms in 20 days . Wanted to run 30 km per day and never crossed 28 km .. though done 25 , 26 21 , and 28 but not 30. I understand it now .. why It happened . Thanks.. Tommorrow it will be 35+. But 35 is not a big deal when its the begining of Jan and I am practicing for Mumbai. I have to set a bigger target for myself. Thanks !

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  9. I like the "moral of the story" - to develop the ability to perceive running as a spiritual quest, exploring all the while, and graually discovering higher states of being.

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  10. awesome amit , i enjoyed reading it.
    Thava

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  11. Thank you Amit, you are a wonderful friend as well as a very inspirational person. I am fortunate to know you! With aloha, Heather.

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  12. moral of ur article....as i understand...
    THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS IMPOSSIBLE
    A little out-of-the-box-thinking n some effort can take u places.

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  13. thanks for introducing us to heather: a true embodiment of:

    “Now bid me run, and I will strive with things impossible.” – Shakespeare, Julius Caesar

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  14. Dear Amit
    Just as Heathers running is pushing the limits & is aspirational your succinct blogs are inspirational too.
    You have hit the nail by saying, " the longest distance is between the ears", n everything else is a matter of time.
    Keep writing, running, sharing & inspiring.. It is people like you who r going to draw a line in the sand challenging our youngsters to push the limits.
    Wish you well on your "fearless journeys" ahead.
    Sachin

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  15. I met Heather at the Kalahari Augrabies Extreme Marathon. You are right she is an inspiration, she is also a very nice person.

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  16. So true and inspiring. It makes me confident and fearless to run full marathon .

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  17. Amit - This is very inspirational. I ran my first HM in Feb 2011 and come Aug I registered for SCMM FM. At times I was skeptical if this was too much to early --But now i am sure if I break the mental barrier I should be able do it .. Thanks for shairing!!

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  18. Very nice post Amit. What i like about it is that besides the flow of the message, you have gone an extra step and done the selfless act of showcasing a runner of talent. Great stuff. Kudos!

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  19. Amazing post. Great show by Heather. The post clearly articulates on our mental barrier which is self made in any walk of life. Great write and thanx for the same.

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