Day 9 of 9 – Loose yourself. Eminem.
“Look, if you had one shot, or one opportunity
To seize everything you ever wanted-One moment
Would you capture it or just let it slip?
Would you capture it or just let it slip?
You better lose yourself in the music, the moment
You own it, you better never let it go
You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow
This opportunity comes once in a lifetime yo!”
You own it, you better never let it go
You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow
This opportunity comes once in a lifetime yo!”
LIfe happens. It happens fast and to quote the late great Gareth Bradbury. “Life, it narrows” and It takes an event like this of such epic magnitude that the average Joe gets to stand up and apply himself. That he gets to a moment in it all that beliefs in the maybe’s become the magic he last felt as a child. He remembers magic in a downhill and the victory over challenges. You do know that you to can shine? Don’t you? That you are shining. FOr us who did the race, it took getting on a mountain bike in Joberg aiming out towards the Freestate and start pedaling, trusting that the organisers know what they are up to. That you have enough food, juice, sunscreen and well, that you have done enough. That’s real. It’s our version of real. It doesn’t make it the only one. Its just our way of being.
The body is an incredible thing. It is so intricately link to the mind it is freaky. You push and push and push, every day getting yourself a little stronger and a little more broken down. Each day taking a little longer to “get loose” and settle into a rhythm. All along the body just copes. It does a million calculations and without ever hinting that it will give in or wants something in return it gives you everything it has. It gives love as though it was the most natural abundant thing in the world to give. And then … you stop … and your body starts to shut down. The ache from day 4 in my back, shoulder and neck that i pushed through rocky hill climb and tufty downhill after bumpy goat track no longer allows me to flip my pillow and the devil thorns i collected in the macmac orchard last night seem now to have taken over my ability to walk and make tea.
Today I completed the Fairburn Capital Old Mutual Joberg2c. I am proud. I humbled by this magnificent country. By three men just like you and I who had the courage to create such an event. By the support of Stu and the Fairbairn Capital Old Mutual team that believe in this event enough to put the backing into it. To the race villages who have breaky for 600 people ready at 5am – EVERY SINGLE DAY. You make me want to do more, to share more, to inspire more so that they too can pay it forward and inspire someone else to do something. I promise you that we can make this world a magical place.
Top moments today:
- Little BiG on a prairie (see the photo)
- Laughing (again)
- Seeing the sea for the first team
- A swim with BiG and then running into the ocean with the all the competitors. What a cool tradition
- the LIFESTRUCK supporers Kel, Di-zee and Lau (BettyBoop) always bbm’ing and there on the finish line making the Massey Ferguson Tractor look HOT! (I am thinking of buying one)
- About 2km out we could hear Doug Bird’s voice across the lagoon. We stopped had a stretch, smiled, took a little bow and a bear hug and headed home.
- Crossing the finish(ed) line with BiG
- Sitting on the grass with nothing to do, nowhere to be, but to drink a beer and watch the day go by.
- A shave (head and face), a bath, comfy pillow and an afternoon kip
Downer: Yes, i have two.
- After persuing my manly growth for 9 days, i wasn’t event a finalist int he hairy fairy beard growing compo. Kelly. We are NO LONGER mates!
- What am i supposed to do when i wake up at 445am tomorrow?
A few thanks TO:
- the massage ladies that kept us going with the odd elbow in the glute, excessive amounts of patience, love, strapping and hope
- The ITEC Connect crew. Jase, Linds and your team – for looking after my mac and making to possible to write what i write
- Wappo, Gary and Farmer Glen. Just, ja, – thanks.
- To my folks, family, Mu & Hb, Facebook mates, Sponsors, Rob and Mike who gave us the entry … the list goes on. Thanks man.
- So-weton and the crew, Future-boy, - Oom Gert, Roy, Rob, Andy. Angie and your magical Songo.info crew … we road a lot with you. Thank-you. Your humour made it real. Dig you guys.
On the more practical side, BiG and i have found a industrial strenght washing machine and the last 9 days of sweaty, dusty, stagnant river marinated kit is slowly regaining some life form.
Ok, … so before I find myself another HANSA: Looking back at the last 9 days, the begining feels months ago. The world has undergone some changes. With great sadness I learned today of Seve Ballesteros’s passing. A wonderful man. And what did i do? I got to spend the last 9 days playing on a bike with my mate and BiG brother, friend and warrior – BiG. You are a man amongst men my friend. There are so many amazing moments and amazing people that made us both smile within and without. Thank-you. Thanks for having us as a part of the Fairbairn Capital Joberg2c family.
To close, more lyrics from Eminem:
“You can do anything you set your mind to, man”
Aho!
JUST PUSH PLAY.
Stu
“You can choose to go, do, be, and have, and in the end you’ll exclaim, shocked and bewildered, that because of all the synchronicities of your life, all the “clicks” and “coincidences,” and the many happy “accidents,” your bounty and good fortune must have been your destiny!
Or, you might choose to wait for a miracle, a savior, or divine intervention, and in the end you’ll exclaim, shocked and bewildered, that because of all the synchronicities of your life, all the missed chances and disappointments, and the many unhappy accidents, your lack and misfortune must have been your destiny.
Do you see what the difference is?” – TUT.com
Stu,
Eloquently described. I am still on a high after finishing the race. It was awesome.
-p
wow! u must hv been on a real hi when u wrote this….either that or u had to be there!
well done to you and BIG!
thanks for sharing the thrills and spills of the last 9 days with us.
Adrian is home safe and sound and wandering around with a distant look in his eyes….trying not to eat everything in site. No doubt he’ll be back with us ‘in body AND in spirit’ tomorrow or the next day!
take care and keep up the inspiting work
magsx
inspiring!