City2Surf 2022
As someone who was never a long distance athlete, the thought of a 14km run from Sydney City to Bondi Beach enthralled me when I heard another person in a wheelchair had done it while I was in rehab in 2016.
I thought to myself, “I could barely run 2km beforehand yet this guy pushed 14km along his rims. Whoever he is, if he can do it, I can do it too.”
I gradually begin training at the gym once I returned home and unfortunately, the thought of City2Surf had completely slipped my mind. For the following years, I would think about it too late or completely forget about it.
Though it was a catch up with a good friend that inspired me. The City2Surf surprisingly came up in conversation and the early bird tickets just happened to be two days away from finishing its sale. We looked at each other and agreed to spontaneously buy our tickets to participate in August 2022.
Thankfully I had been playing wheelchair basketball for 9 months prior so my pushing skills weren’t too bad. With the goal in mind, I made a note to do HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) in the gym regularly prior to the run day.
My friend and I arrived and I hadn’t seen anything quite like it! DJs set up at every corner, free goodies, reporters everywhere and 60,000 other Aussie’s there to have a go on that sunny winter’s morning - The atmosphere was incredible.
We made a plan to complete the 14km as quick as we could, and in between weaving through all the people around other participants would support us and cheer us on as we made our way to the finish line.
Then halfway through the run came the dreaded heartbreak hill - The 2km incline that everyone had told me about prior. It was tough, though as we both strived for every metre ahead of us, others continued to support us all the way to the top.
Thankfully there wasn’t another hill quite like it and we completed the other half of the run.
As we both crossed the finish line, we took photos of one another looking sweaty but feeling successful. We both looked around to see other people congratulating one another, giving high 5’s and wearing smiles just as big as we did.
We found a grass patch and laid down to rest up after the run.
I laid there reflecting in awe of that morning and what led up to it:
1) I remembered back to the moment I first said and envisioned myself doing it
2) All the basketball and HIIT I had done
3) People supporting along the way
4) Other people having a go
5) Everyone’s smiles at the end
I laid there feeling accomplished, happy with my efforts and inspired from within. This was a personal goal of mine and had I not done it, I know I would’ve looked back in regret for giving it a shot at least.
I knew I was lucky to be given a second chance at life because not many people get that. So while I’ve got this chance, I’m going to commit to saying “Yes” more often:
To my dreams
To different experiences
To learn new things
To give more to others
To great people in my life
I had previously spent my life being the very opposite of that and it didn’t lead me anywhere good.
Thankfully, I now know and can share with others the importance of “Having a go!”
It’s your goals
You have curiosity around it
People will support you (even when you don’t think so!)
And the biggest of all - You’ll never know unless you try
So go for it, say “Yes!”
