where's ally? A tribute to Forrest Gump...
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14... Fourteen Kilometres...
Here's to human nature's fascination with pushing physical limits no matter how great or small...
City to Surf is a once a year event where every runner (be that a serious marathon runner or a pseudo-athlete) congregate to test their physical endurance. From gorillas with bananas to the teletubbies or the jedi's - Sydney welcomes one and all to run 14km from Sydney City to Bondi Beach.
Exhilarating, exhausting, challenging and motivating, stride by stride 70,000 people participated all sharing an unspoken pact; to cross the finish line, and I was no different.
Despite the edgy, manic, hypochondriac nervousness which enveloped me days prior to the BIG race (of course none of which were self-inflicted), I managed to ignore some snide remarks about my paradoxical lifestyle (my apparent affinity for health, fitness and vices - 'yada yada yada') and crossed the finish line in less that my initial 2 hour goal...
Our group was made up of 8 'raring to go' boys and girls, Binx, Kam and I took photos of the endless lines of porta-loos, broken plastic cups, big bands on the sides of the road and abandoned jumpers of all shapes and sizes to document that; yes, we were among the thousands who had nothing better to do on a Sunday morning than put ourselves through a torturous run... but it was all in the name charity and fun.
Kam said that this year would be the year to 'tick off' the list, you know, that list that so many of us seem to 'secretly' possess. A list of things we want to achieve, the 'To Do's', 'To Go's' or 'To Get's'. A more puzzling note - it's a wonder how these 'goals' on these proverbial lists never seem to decrease, once we achieve something, even surpass it, no sooner do we hope to do something better, wilder, more interesting...
Is it so innate; the human quality of never being satisfied? Are we so busy wanting that something 'more' that we forget to pause; and feel genuinely content?
I couldn't help getting lost in my mind as I was swept by the tidal wave of crazed runners all scurrying to get to their destination. Each one relying on their deepest competitive streak to generate a second or third wind... Although we came in groups, each group dispersed into pairs and the next thing you know, you're running alone, armed with nothing but your motivation to not come last, an ipod and your short thunder-thighs.
I digress. The point I try to communicate (for those amused enough to read this far), is that in life, we'll always have the various close circles, in the form of family, friends etc. but ultimately we cannot rely on anyone else to run our race for us. We'll get tired, frustrated, hungry and helpless along the way, but that innate human instinct which insists 'survival of the fittest' will drag us along and at the finish line it won't matter too much what place you come, what time you beat - amidst the bustling blur of stampeding feet, all I remember is giving a hearty sigh, gasping for air and saying 'Yes, I made it!'
On that note; thank you guys, you were amazing! (even Binx with her wonky, where's wally socks!) LOL. Can't wait for next year...
Here's to human nature's fascination with pushing physical limits no matter how great or small...
City to Surf is a once a year event where every runner (be that a serious marathon runner or a pseudo-athlete) congregate to test their physical endurance. From gorillas with bananas to the teletubbies or the jedi's - Sydney welcomes one and all to run 14km from Sydney City to Bondi Beach.
Exhilarating, exhausting, challenging and motivating, stride by stride 70,000 people participated all sharing an unspoken pact; to cross the finish line, and I was no different.
Despite the edgy, manic, hypochondriac nervousness which enveloped me days prior to the BIG race (of course none of which were self-inflicted), I managed to ignore some snide remarks about my paradoxical lifestyle (my apparent affinity for health, fitness and vices - 'yada yada yada') and crossed the finish line in less that my initial 2 hour goal...
Our group was made up of 8 'raring to go' boys and girls, Binx, Kam and I took photos of the endless lines of porta-loos, broken plastic cups, big bands on the sides of the road and abandoned jumpers of all shapes and sizes to document that; yes, we were among the thousands who had nothing better to do on a Sunday morning than put ourselves through a torturous run... but it was all in the name charity and fun.
Kam said that this year would be the year to 'tick off' the list, you know, that list that so many of us seem to 'secretly' possess. A list of things we want to achieve, the 'To Do's', 'To Go's' or 'To Get's'. A more puzzling note - it's a wonder how these 'goals' on these proverbial lists never seem to decrease, once we achieve something, even surpass it, no sooner do we hope to do something better, wilder, more interesting...
Is it so innate; the human quality of never being satisfied? Are we so busy wanting that something 'more' that we forget to pause; and feel genuinely content?
I couldn't help getting lost in my mind as I was swept by the tidal wave of crazed runners all scurrying to get to their destination. Each one relying on their deepest competitive streak to generate a second or third wind... Although we came in groups, each group dispersed into pairs and the next thing you know, you're running alone, armed with nothing but your motivation to not come last, an ipod and your short thunder-thighs.
I digress. The point I try to communicate (for those amused enough to read this far), is that in life, we'll always have the various close circles, in the form of family, friends etc. but ultimately we cannot rely on anyone else to run our race for us. We'll get tired, frustrated, hungry and helpless along the way, but that innate human instinct which insists 'survival of the fittest' will drag us along and at the finish line it won't matter too much what place you come, what time you beat - amidst the bustling blur of stampeding feet, all I remember is giving a hearty sigh, gasping for air and saying 'Yes, I made it!'
On that note; thank you guys, you were amazing! (even Binx with her wonky, where's wally socks!) LOL. Can't wait for next year...