2019 Racing-the-Planet New Zealand, 250km
Planet, consider yourself raced.
What an awesome journey. On foot it was 250km of the most gruelling and mostly up tracks I have ever trod, but there were some amazing descents too.
Mentally the journey was equally breathtaking. It had challenges of its own, up and down.
This was more than a foot race.
Watch this highlights reel
Each day had it’s breaking points. Points on the course (usually steep and up) where I was crushed and broken, empty points where the next step seemed impossible. Points that broke my body and mind into tiny pieces and I just wanted to be lifted out.
What makes the finish line of this race special is the way you get there. It is not physical strength or training that’s get you there, you can never train enough. Instead, it is your internal spirit and the energy from other competitors that lifts you. To overcome the lows and stitch each tiny piece back together takes courage. We all showed it. But what we also found was that through the crushing process each small piece of mind and body was forged a bit stronger and a bit bigger.
So today, when I got to the finish line and my gorgeous wife and kids were there to greet me, I was running very tired, but a little bit taller and a little bit stronger than I’ve ever been. It was my mind not my legs that got me there.
I can’t remember much of the final stage. It was hard, it was up and it was about 15km. But after 235km the finish was hard and couldn’t come soon enough; until it arrived. Seeing Justine, Will and Henry and the other competitors, race crew and their families at the finish was special. So very, very special. A moment to last forever.
I may have forgotten the route, many of the steps and some of the pain, but I won’t forget this experience or the friends I made. Unforgettable.
THANKS everyone that has been right behind me, your comments, thoughts and sponsorship were with me.
For kids and young adults dealing with diabetes for the first time there are days when normal things crush you; when eating and insulin and blood glucose levels go wrong. Unlike the race there are few if any highs, and sometimes it’s not easy to see a path to being fitter and stronger. I should know I’ve been there. I ran this race mostly for me, but also to show everyone with type 1 diabetes we can be #fitterforhavingit
Please don't give people with type 1 diabetes sympathy, give us your support or better still give your money to organisations like JDRF who do some fabulous work