It is Wednesday, my dudes. Uft- it was hard to get out of bed this morning, hearing that rain coming down it takes that bit more effort to get out the door. But once again you all made it worth it, you showed up despite the rain and the darkness and you brought the fire this morning.
Now, buckle up, this is going to be an emotional one. Terry Fox. If you went to school after the 80’s, work in a school now, have a child, have looked at the picture on a loonie or have been in Canada in September you will probably know who Terry Fox is. I was an emotional kid and I spent every Terry Fox assembly trying to hide from the other kids that I was crying (I’m not crying- you’re crying). But after a certain point Terry’s was a story that I’d heard so many times that I’d stopped really examining it. It turned into – ‘Terry Fox, dope Canadian hero, ran really far, great hair, cancer awareness, yadda, yadda’.
Until last year, at the school I work at, during the morning announcements in September, the ‘Terry Fact of the Day’ was that Terry ran a full marathon every day for 143 days. I stopped cold in my tracks. A. FULL. MARATHON. EVERY. DAY. Think for a minute about how truly remarkable that is. Terry Fox was only 21 years old, he had a prosthetic leg, he had recently fought cancer and he ran a full marathon for 143 consecutive days. He ran 5373 kilometers across Canada until he was forced to stop. I am gassed for weeks after running one marathon, and I am completely healthy.
We can all call to mind the strange, swinging, hop running style that Terry had and that is because the spring in his prosthetic leg took a second to reset every step, he needed to completely change his running stride to accommodate it. I mean, a few years ago when I was training for a marathon, I tried to switch from heel striking to toe striking and I nearly had a breakdown and quit running- ok- not quite- but almost.
Terry ran all that way on a prosthetic leg and because of this he suffered from bone bruises, blisters and intense pain. If I forget to put on body glide before a long run and get sports bra chafe it’s the end of my world for a few days. I cannot begin to fathom the physical discomfort that Terry felt. As a runner who has completed marathons, I have a vague understanding of what he did, but only to the extent that what he accomplished is that much more incredible and incomprehensible.
What does Terry Fox have to do with November Project? Well, nothing and everything, Terry did something other people didn’t understand, something they thought was crazy. Terry believed in connecting people through the power of physical activity. Terry was raw, gritty and determined. Terry showed up.
Next time you’re hurting in the middle of a long run, you’re afraid to sign up for that race, you’re struggling to get out of bed, you’re looking for the motivation to lace up your shoes and get out the door, think of Terry and be like Terry. Through the hurt, through the struggle, through the pain, keep pushing, keep grinding, keep daring to hope, be like Terry. As the days get shorter and colder and the nights get darker, keep showing up; show up for yourself, show up for the people around you. Whether you know it or not, you’re an inspiration to someone; be it a child, parent, partner, student, neighbour or friend. So, let your actions be an example to them, let your light shine for them to see. Dare to attempt the impossible, be brave and unrelenting.
That’s it. That’s all. I heart you all and thank you reading along on my outpouring of Terry Fox related emotions.
Megan Cora of the House Hunter, First of her Name, Queen of the Terry Fox fan club, Kahleesi of Inspirational Blogs, Breaker of Barriers and Mother of Emotions
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Thanks for this blog. I lay in bed at 5:30 last Friday contemplating going back to sleep until I read this! Hauled my butt out of bed and had a great workout, so much energy.