On this day some ordinary, everyday people completed one of
the toughest rail runs that Victoria has to offer. The Mt Macedon 50km trail
run was taken on by people from all walks. I’ve been on ‘training’ runs with
several of the pointy end finishers. Apart from being passionate about a sport
that involves hours of pain they are all very normal. Anyone in this world
could complete Macedon but most just simply choose not to. That’s ok, it’s not
everyone’s cuppa. Those normal people who do this have to work hard in training
every day to be capable of the feat. It’s their choice.
On this day in glorious Traralgon a 42 year old known as
Shape was running his debut marathon. Mere months ago he was hovering around
the 100kg mark. Not a great shape for marathons. He chose to train hard even
when many around him probably thought he was no chance. He got injured just
before Melbourne mara, scratched himself, got right and started training all
over again. And on this day he chooses to run in Traralgon. No big MCG finish,
no great amounts of friends and family looking on. On this day he just goes out
and achieves his goal.
On this day it’s a rest day for a mum and wife who ran two
kms, non-stop, yesterday for the first time in her life. Tomorrow morning she
will wake at 5.30am to be ready to run with her trainer. Her trainer is one of
those pointy end finishers at Macedon. It’s not easy to be up so early. It’s
not easy to get out and run further than ever before by yourself. It’s a
choice.
On this day a dad and his daughter ran together in the ten
km event at Macedon. This young girl ran just seconds over sixty minutes on a
hilly trail in very cold conditions, coming in first for the juniors and was
fifth female overall. She chooses to train to be capable. Her dad, a relatively
normal bloke, likes to run for many, many hours at a time. On this day his
daughter achieved a great result, partly because one day her dad decided to be
a runner.
On this day I went for a ten km run along Mordialloc Beach.
By chance I met up with an old friend from school who was out for 20-25kms by
himself. He’s hoping to run the Melbourne marathon in October. He’s also going
to welcome his first child into the world in just three weeks time. One day
that little baby may just run alongside her dad in an event somewhere.
On this day, on my way back home, I ran along the path
towards Mordialloc Pier. Two young guys were walking towards me. They moved
apart so that I could run in between them but their eyes were trained on me in
way that didn’t feel quite right. I wasn’t scared but I was curious and a
little wary. I looked at the taller one and then to the smaller one.
On this day, in broad daylight, with me only a metre away,
the smaller one had his face in a plastic bag. The bag was inflating and
deflating. On this day his choice was chroming.
I can’t be sure, but I don’t think his parents were out on
the trails today.
Being engaged and active in our kids’ lives is a choice. I’m
sure the choice makes a difference.
