How Goofy Changed My Life
Thanks to Lisa, I signed up for my favorite event of all time — the Goofy Challenge. She noticed that it had reopened on Friday and like a tiger pouncing on its prey, yours truly could not sign up fast enough.
I love this event. It really means something to me having received so many gifts and powerful lessons each time I did this event. Yes it is both difficult and painful. The long and lonely miles on both Saturdays and Sundays in preparation for the event are more difficult than the event itself at times. That is what makes it so very special. Overcoming external obstacles and inner demons. The heat and humidity are as formidable foes as they come, but pale in comparison to the inner voices, questioning why one would do this. Boredom comes along to throw in his 2 cents at times. It is often said that Pain is a motivator. During 15-20 mile back to back training runs, it is also a very loud Stop Sign. A demanding child insisting that this nonsense cease and cease now. Yet it is in the direct facing of these fears, challenges and inner beasts that some of life’s powerful learning are passed on. I have received more “gifts” from this event than any other experience I have ever had. It is a wonder why I love this?
The irony is that the 2 prior times I completed this event were fraught with great difficulty. Lisa and I did this together in 2007. In addition to the 90+ degree heat and Disney running out of water at mile 18, only a few weeks prior we received the horrible news that her dad was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
For me, it was a way of trying to make some degree of sense out of a seemingly senseless world. How could this have happened? It happens to other people which is bad enough, not not him. Not us. Maybe if I run hard enough and far enough, I can find some answer along the path that would fill in the blanks. Of course, this did not happen or at least it did not happen in a way that I anticipated. What this event did do was teach me to focus on the present and to enjoy every single moment on Mother Earth. During the course of the next 14 months, I had more deep, personal conversation with Lisa’s dad than the prior 10 years combined. As I said, Goofy has gifts if you are open to receiving them.
The second time I ran this was a week after her dad passed. I went back and forth as to what to do or not do. In the end, I decided to go forth and quite frankly, I was scared. I knew I would finish and stay healthy but I would have to go past Mile Marker 18. This is the mile Lisa and I met her parents the first (and only) time we did a marathon together. The image of his smiling if not surprised face is forever burned in my mental data bank. How would I react? Part of me wondered if I would simply breakdown. Part of me wondered if it would be a happy “reunion” of sorts. It turned out to be neither. Instead it was a bonding – yes, he would no longer be wearing a diseased body but somehow, I knew he was both here and more importantly, fine. We ended up running together, the last thing I thought would have happened. A refueling of my heart and my soul. Another magical gift.
This experience would also refuel me physically. It tapped into a reservoir of defiance and anger. I thought of death and with a bit of rebelliousness and a flood of emotion found myself saying, “You may get me one day but it sure as hell will not be today.”
Of course, there were many other experiences during the past 2 times. I met and spoke with people from all over the globe and we become friends, if only for a few miles. I experienced deep appreciation and gratitude for the wonderful volunteers and enthusiastic spectators all along the way. I found new skills that I never knew I even had — ones that would prove extremely valuable in important life events over the years. Mostly, I found better versions of myself and maybe helped some others find better versions of themselves.
I sweated and pushed as much as laughed and shared. I saw people that I love and shared good energy with many others along the way. I saw examples of what it means to be a giving person. I experienced the best of what we as human beings have to offer. I saw, felt and experienced all of this and more in only 39.3 miles.
Still wondering why I love this?
Dr. David Orman
www.hghplus.net
www.hghbizop.com
I love this event. It really means something to me having received so many gifts and powerful lessons each time I did this event. Yes it is both difficult and painful. The long and lonely miles on both Saturdays and Sundays in preparation for the event are more difficult than the event itself at times. That is what makes it so very special. Overcoming external obstacles and inner demons. The heat and humidity are as formidable foes as they come, but pale in comparison to the inner voices, questioning why one would do this. Boredom comes along to throw in his 2 cents at times. It is often said that Pain is a motivator. During 15-20 mile back to back training runs, it is also a very loud Stop Sign. A demanding child insisting that this nonsense cease and cease now. Yet it is in the direct facing of these fears, challenges and inner beasts that some of life’s powerful learning are passed on. I have received more “gifts” from this event than any other experience I have ever had. It is a wonder why I love this?
The irony is that the 2 prior times I completed this event were fraught with great difficulty. Lisa and I did this together in 2007. In addition to the 90+ degree heat and Disney running out of water at mile 18, only a few weeks prior we received the horrible news that her dad was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
For me, it was a way of trying to make some degree of sense out of a seemingly senseless world. How could this have happened? It happens to other people which is bad enough, not not him. Not us. Maybe if I run hard enough and far enough, I can find some answer along the path that would fill in the blanks. Of course, this did not happen or at least it did not happen in a way that I anticipated. What this event did do was teach me to focus on the present and to enjoy every single moment on Mother Earth. During the course of the next 14 months, I had more deep, personal conversation with Lisa’s dad than the prior 10 years combined. As I said, Goofy has gifts if you are open to receiving them.
The second time I ran this was a week after her dad passed. I went back and forth as to what to do or not do. In the end, I decided to go forth and quite frankly, I was scared. I knew I would finish and stay healthy but I would have to go past Mile Marker 18. This is the mile Lisa and I met her parents the first (and only) time we did a marathon together. The image of his smiling if not surprised face is forever burned in my mental data bank. How would I react? Part of me wondered if I would simply breakdown. Part of me wondered if it would be a happy “reunion” of sorts. It turned out to be neither. Instead it was a bonding – yes, he would no longer be wearing a diseased body but somehow, I knew he was both here and more importantly, fine. We ended up running together, the last thing I thought would have happened. A refueling of my heart and my soul. Another magical gift.
This experience would also refuel me physically. It tapped into a reservoir of defiance and anger. I thought of death and with a bit of rebelliousness and a flood of emotion found myself saying, “You may get me one day but it sure as hell will not be today.”
Of course, there were many other experiences during the past 2 times. I met and spoke with people from all over the globe and we become friends, if only for a few miles. I experienced deep appreciation and gratitude for the wonderful volunteers and enthusiastic spectators all along the way. I found new skills that I never knew I even had — ones that would prove extremely valuable in important life events over the years. Mostly, I found better versions of myself and maybe helped some others find better versions of themselves.
I sweated and pushed as much as laughed and shared. I saw people that I love and shared good energy with many others along the way. I saw examples of what it means to be a giving person. I experienced the best of what we as human beings have to offer. I saw, felt and experienced all of this and more in only 39.3 miles.
Still wondering why I love this?
Dr. David Orman
www.hghplus.net
www.hghbizop.com
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