Happiness is 'BEING ABLE TO WALK'Heading out the door for my speed walk today and just felt overwhelmingly grateful that I could walk. Sounds kinda silly to an able bodied person.
Then I thought about some of the incredible "challenged" athletes we have in this beautiful country South Africa.
Oscar Pistorius had his legs amputated at a very young age and has grown up with prosthetics He has also grown up to be a very fast runner. He has had special blades made to enable him to run. Biomechanically he would have a hard time running with traditional proshetics.
This incredible young man...early 20's.....has been fighting a major battle with the international athletic authorities to.....get this.....ALLOW HIM TO RUN IN THE OLYMPIC GAMES....yes he's that fast. Up till a short while ago he has met with a brick wall. "He has an advantage with the springy blades", they say.
Advantage over what, able bodied guys with REAL legs. Give me a break, are you kidding me.
Anyway, he has finally been allowed to compete in Beijing....all he has to do now is beat the Olympic qualifying time.
Can you image a kid with NO legs's biggest challenge being to QUALIFY FOR THE OLYMPIC GAMES.
The least YOU can do is get off the darn couch and walk around the block,that's a start.
By the way, my speed walk today, 3+kms, a new PB 27.49. Down from my original 1 hour. Looking forward to Fartlek (speedplay) 4+kms on thursday.
Please ask all your non-exercising friends to read my blog...and maybe we'll get another 100 people to fall in love...with health and fitness. Our lives are so precious, don't waste them watching people ride a mountain bike...Go do it yourself.....NOW.
6 comments:
Hey Dougal
just wanted to say how much respect i have for you, to go through something like this and to have the attitude you have is phenomenal! i know i would struggle to be optimistic if faced with the same situation, but after reading your blog, i feel i can face anything life throws at me. I am proud to be related to you!
Keep that chin up and keep charging forward!
Kyle
Hey my boy, thank you so much for the visit and the comments. I believe you don't give yourself enough credit..you have unlimited potential..however, I wouldn't want to see you or anybody challenged this far. It ain't easy but I have my whole life ahead of me and I intend to make the most of it.
Kyle is my nephew and is a very talented athlete in his own right, living in England.
His address is ....oh no, I better not, he'll have every female on the planet after him. Yes he is that Fly.
Well, if Kyle has HALF the gumption his uncle has, then he's a pretty great guy! He has a lot of love and respect for you. Family really helps when the going gets rough. I mentioned you on my blog today :)
You go... keep smiling... Thanks for cheering me on. I really appreciate it. I comment at the comments section on my blog also
Wow Dougal, you already cut your 3k time in half. Awesome!
Shari, you're right family help A LOT, I just wish they wern't so far away.
Liz, thanks, heading on over to your site right now.
Lil, thanks, boy I'm happy...and I'm really enjoying walking.
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