How do you measure 10 minutes?
There is, at least for me, a huge gap in the wanting for time to pass and the actual passing of time. I have been stuck in the same ten minutes of time before, for what seemed like forever. Time is this concept we have placed all our trust in. We believe in it. We assume it is an absolute. A thing we can thank the sun for. A passage through. A movement in. A moment in. A thought.
Give me a second. Hang on a second. Slow down a minute there. Hurry up, we don't have all day. Quick like a bunny. Step it up. Let's make some tracks.
Time will tell. She always does. The tale she tells is mostly up to you though.
Ten minutes. Let's encapsulate this ten minutes. Let's contemplate this ten minutes, in context. During an exam? One you are failing? On a long run? At the beginning? Nearer to the end? Slowly? Quickly?
An ultra runner measures ten minutes the same way. Ten minutes until I will let myself walk again. Ten minutes until I have to start running again. Ten minutes until the race starts. Ten minutes to wait in line for the portapot... (what am I doing I'm an ultra runner, where's the nearest tree?). Ten minutes off my last PB time on this course. Ten minutes for the next mile. Ten minutes to the next aid station. Ten minutes until I see my tent again, my crew again, civilization again. Ten minutes I might lose my mind in. Ten minutes to change the world. Longest ten minutes ever. Longest five seconds ever. Don't give up.
Then we stop. Perhaps we don't stop running, or walking, or crawling forward. But we take pause mentally and regroup. Challenge our physical space against this person we have set out to be. And one deep breath after the next, make an important decision. A life changing decision. One we will make over and over again.
Who am I?
My answer for this is always the same. I swear I merely forget from time to time. My answer is always the stepping stone for the next moment. I may not know who I am. But I know who I don't want to be. I know who I'm aiming to be. I know, specifically, the vastness of the universe I know nothing about, that is waiting for me just beyond. Just past this next step.... If I would only brave taking it.
Will you brave taking it with me?
This journey along the Bruce Trail in August has so many steps. The "timeline" will take me through some of the darkest corners of my inhibitions. First, back to the Boston Marathon, where the events of last year still haunt my dreams and threaten to shake the foundation of my trust. This is a trust I work daily to cement. A trust in the earth beneath my feet, always being there to rise up and meet me. A trust in the goodness of people and their willingness to help. A trust in the universe to show me the direction I should take next in life. After Boston, there are a few events to keep smiles ever present. A marathon here or there. A 10 mile swim. A 24 hour bike race. A nap or two. And then the Bruce.
So we return, how do you measure ten minutes? Is it easier to let it go without a watch? Is it more comfortable to not think of time ticking away?
128 days until my feet (along with the feet of so many wonderful volunteers) touch the Bruce Trail and begin. Each day bringing us closer to the end. Each day setting out to show the world that disabled athletes are out there, trying, investing, training, focusing, and looking forward to the next ten minutes.
Every minute is a gift. Whether or not it was wrapped in beautiful paper and bows, or mud and twigs - it's still a gift.
Much love on the run,
rm
For more information on our campaign and the Bruce Trail Challenge please click the links above.
Show your support and share us around!!
Friday, March 28, 2014
Tuesday, March 4, 2014
A "Teachable Moment" In Time...With Barrie's MP Patrick Brown
... But wait, what is a "Teachable Moment"?
Solo shared this term with me once upon a time. It caught my attention so much so that I search it out whenever, and wherever I can. Ekaterina Solovieva SOLO tells us that a teachable moment is any moment that offers a lesson when it's not necessarily expected.
At the end of February I had the opportunity to spend a morning with Barrie's MP Patrick Brown. (More info on Patrick here) Two dear friends of mine; Joan Van Hilten (read her blog here) and Patrick Voo (read his blog here) joined in the fun. Ultra runners by habit and guide runners by chance, these two helped to share the lessons of How To Guide Run a Rhonda with our MP.
Our goal for this adventure? To share with our MP what it's like to guide run and also to share the concept of a small thing I would call "multisensory perception". How does running take on a new level of awareness if one sense is removed? Patrick Brown, after guide running around a loop with the group, then agreed to blindfold himself and be guide run around the same loop. Watch and see what happens...
Adventures in blindrunning continue! Lets get the word out there!
Please click back on the tabs above to read the Challenge and what this Bruce Trail adventure is all about.
Please share our Go Fund Me page with your friends and family. Let them know we are out to raise awareness and funds for Achilles Canada!!
Much love on the run,
rm
Solo shared this term with me once upon a time. It caught my attention so much so that I search it out whenever, and wherever I can. Ekaterina Solovieva SOLO tells us that a teachable moment is any moment that offers a lesson when it's not necessarily expected.
At the end of February I had the opportunity to spend a morning with Barrie's MP Patrick Brown. (More info on Patrick here) Two dear friends of mine; Joan Van Hilten (read her blog here) and Patrick Voo (read his blog here) joined in the fun. Ultra runners by habit and guide runners by chance, these two helped to share the lessons of How To Guide Run a Rhonda with our MP.
Our goal for this adventure? To share with our MP what it's like to guide run and also to share the concept of a small thing I would call "multisensory perception". How does running take on a new level of awareness if one sense is removed? Patrick Brown, after guide running around a loop with the group, then agreed to blindfold himself and be guide run around the same loop. Watch and see what happens...
Adventures in blindrunning continue! Lets get the word out there!
Please click back on the tabs above to read the Challenge and what this Bruce Trail adventure is all about.
Please share our Go Fund Me page with your friends and family. Let them know we are out to raise awareness and funds for Achilles Canada!!
Much love on the run,
rm
Thursday, February 27, 2014
Envisions And The Light Within
Dream big! And plan bigger! This year I hope to make that statement a way of life, not just words I utter in my empty moments.... This year the universe introduced me to my Salomon Sister Solo (Kate) and we've plotted a big challenge... Take a look and see for yourself!
http://www.achillescanada.ca
Thursday, February 13, 2014
The Bruce
The Challenge:
End To End Bruce Trail
The Bruce Trail runs south from Tobermory to Niagara. It is the longest and oldest footpath. Go look them up! Did you know they run off of donations? Become a member, support some of our national heritage...
brucetrail.org
For many many years the adventure hiker has braved making the End to End trek along the Bruce Trail. In more recent years, the ultra running community has shown some interest in attempting this 885km trail as a "Big Goal". To which I say, Thank you! You Ultrarunner folk are so inspiring!
As a disabled endurance athlete, my goal is always to show up, do my best and put all concepts of my disability aside to accomplish an adventure that most would not try. Or rather that most would assume I might not try.
I say BE BRAVE! Everyday... no matter what anyone says. Do your best and see what you can accomplish.
Let me ask you this, What do you know of disabled sport? Or in a larger sense, What do you know of disability?
Did you know that apparently 10% of the worlds population is disabled? Did you know that 40% of people have a disabled person in their immediate circle of family and friends? Did you know that the "disabled" are the worlds largest minority group?
Did you realise, it's also the group that any of us could become a member of at any time?
How would you feel if I took hockey away from you? Not a hockey fan? okay tennis? or soccer? or running? Walking? Cycling? Swimming? ...you get the idea.
Here's another question; When you imagine an olympic swimmer, do they have two arms? Can they hear you cheering for them? Do you think that altering your image of this swimmer changes your thinking? Or change theirs?
Now what if that same disabled swimmer is slowing down your exit from the gym change room? What if that same disabled swimmer is stuck at home without a way to get to the gym to train? What if that disabled swimmer is a child lost in their dreams of one day, merely, taking part?
.... That is why I'm doing this.
On August 4th, 2014, with the help and support of a team of volunteers I will be starting my quest to run the Bruce Trail from the north end to the south. Each day, accompanied by two guide runners we will travel at least the distance of a marathon (42.2km). This adventure in ultrarunning is set out as an Awareness Campaign for Disabled Athletes. The entire journey will take 20 days. The last day, August 23 2014, is the only day we won't be covering an ultra disance. The last 5km of the Bruce Trail, we are hoping you will all join us to walk to the finish. So that together, we can all help to create a space of openness for the participation of all people, disabled or not.
Disabled Athletes here in Canada have access to this wonderful organization called Achilles Canada. Check them out here...
www.achillescanada.ca
This is the group I learned to run with. This is the group that met me at 5:30am three days a week and taught me to run one min at a time. They taught me to be brave, to ignore limits, to push preconceived notions of all I could do. They have arranged numerous guide runner volunteers over the course of the last five years to help me take part and finish 5K's to 100 mile races. As this journey continues there will be a way to donate to this wonderful organization. Please check them out.
In the meantime, now you know the challenge. Please please follow along as we attempt to make some changes to the way the world thinks about "Disability" and "Sport".
Much love on the run,
rm
End To End Bruce Trail
The Bruce Trail runs south from Tobermory to Niagara. It is the longest and oldest footpath. Go look them up! Did you know they run off of donations? Become a member, support some of our national heritage...
brucetrail.org
For many many years the adventure hiker has braved making the End to End trek along the Bruce Trail. In more recent years, the ultra running community has shown some interest in attempting this 885km trail as a "Big Goal". To which I say, Thank you! You Ultrarunner folk are so inspiring!
As a disabled endurance athlete, my goal is always to show up, do my best and put all concepts of my disability aside to accomplish an adventure that most would not try. Or rather that most would assume I might not try.
I say BE BRAVE! Everyday... no matter what anyone says. Do your best and see what you can accomplish.
Let me ask you this, What do you know of disabled sport? Or in a larger sense, What do you know of disability?
Did you know that apparently 10% of the worlds population is disabled? Did you know that 40% of people have a disabled person in their immediate circle of family and friends? Did you know that the "disabled" are the worlds largest minority group?
Did you realise, it's also the group that any of us could become a member of at any time?
How would you feel if I took hockey away from you? Not a hockey fan? okay tennis? or soccer? or running? Walking? Cycling? Swimming? ...you get the idea.
Here's another question; When you imagine an olympic swimmer, do they have two arms? Can they hear you cheering for them? Do you think that altering your image of this swimmer changes your thinking? Or change theirs?
Now what if that same disabled swimmer is slowing down your exit from the gym change room? What if that same disabled swimmer is stuck at home without a way to get to the gym to train? What if that disabled swimmer is a child lost in their dreams of one day, merely, taking part?
.... That is why I'm doing this.
On August 4th, 2014, with the help and support of a team of volunteers I will be starting my quest to run the Bruce Trail from the north end to the south. Each day, accompanied by two guide runners we will travel at least the distance of a marathon (42.2km). This adventure in ultrarunning is set out as an Awareness Campaign for Disabled Athletes. The entire journey will take 20 days. The last day, August 23 2014, is the only day we won't be covering an ultra disance. The last 5km of the Bruce Trail, we are hoping you will all join us to walk to the finish. So that together, we can all help to create a space of openness for the participation of all people, disabled or not.
Disabled Athletes here in Canada have access to this wonderful organization called Achilles Canada. Check them out here...
www.achillescanada.ca
This is the group I learned to run with. This is the group that met me at 5:30am three days a week and taught me to run one min at a time. They taught me to be brave, to ignore limits, to push preconceived notions of all I could do. They have arranged numerous guide runner volunteers over the course of the last five years to help me take part and finish 5K's to 100 mile races. As this journey continues there will be a way to donate to this wonderful organization. Please check them out.
In the meantime, now you know the challenge. Please please follow along as we attempt to make some changes to the way the world thinks about "Disability" and "Sport".
Much love on the run,
rm
Saturday, December 28, 2013
That thing you do....
2013 ends with whatever effort you gave it. The calendar cares not that you wish for one more week, one last attempt. Past is always exactly where your footsteps took you. Best to enjoy all the culmination of a years work done and move forward with gratefulness and an open heart.
2014 - the year of this dream, this goal of yours.... Is exactly where you set your gaze to. If you see frustration and hurdles - that's what you will go through. If you see hard work and dedication, so too will you see. If you see an impossible task unraveling ..... Well you get the metaphor.
The Envisions journey has already begun, but we hope to detail a bit more of what's going on with the coming days, weeks, months. We hope to share with you our purpose, hopes and aspirations. We hope to enlighten you with training updates, intermittent race reports and feedback from various guides, crew volunteers and coaches as we travel this path.
We also invite you to join in the conversation. Tell us what your years goals are. Share how you plan to achieve them, where you gather motivation from. Send us your progress, your training ups and downs. Tell us how having a dream can change your focus.
As ever, if you wish to offer some support to our quest of end to end disabled running on the Bruce Trail in August 2014, please email us, or tweet us. We would love to hear from you.
Envisions2014@gmail.com
Or
@envisions2014
Tuesday, December 10, 2013
Relentless hope
The taste of a dream lingers beyond waking. The lure of hope tugs at the corners of our souls. The movement of change, once begun, is stronger than a water fall. It carries with it all the culminated effort of effect as it travels down stream. To stop, to pause, in shallow waters of that karmic dance, can set you free. If you let it.
Every chance you have to do your best, is exactly that - a chance. You are given so many opportunities to put your best foot forward. Oftentimes our everyday gets in the way. Life waits for no one. It carries on, down the path it has set to travel, taking the hopeful along with it.
What is your dream? What is your goal? What's holding you back from chasing it down? From holding close... From catching some spark of motivation and lighting the trail for others to see? Spend time contemplating your "undoable". What are those goals you gave up on? Those dreams you have decided you're too busy, too young, too unprepared, too old, too tired to go after? Spend a few delicate moments in the silence surrounded by your "undoable".
If you open yourself up to possibility, to all things attainable, to the unversal law that you are unique and have purpose... You will hear your dreams whisper in that dark. You will feel all the power of intention and driven focus you've been overlooking. You will glimpse your possible future. It's there, tangled among your undoable. It's there, caught in the steam above your morning coffee. Dance your fingers through it. Know all the things you could be. And step into that relentless hope.
In the words of Goerge Sheehan;
"We are of a flesh that asks for more and more challenges, that seeks one frontier after another. What is missing is not physical energy. The fuel is there, waiting to be ignited. We need some spark to light the fires, something to get us into action"
Go be your own spark. And dance among generous kindling.
Much love on the run....
Saturday, November 30, 2013
The Beginning
There's always a beginning of everything. This is the formal beginning for envisions. In August 2014 Rhonda-Marie Avery and her fantastic team will be running the Bruce Trail end to end.
Legally blind since birth, Rhonda-Marie takes on this challenge as a task to create awareness for disabled athletes everywhere.
The adventure will take a total of 20 days, with a distance of at least a marathon travelled everyday. Two different guide runners will be accompanying Rhonda-Marie each day. An inspirational crew team will travel close to the trail throughout the journey to ensure water and fuel is close at hand.
Please join us and follow along as new developments arise. Many details to come.
Questions? Want to volunteer?
Email us at envisions2014@gmail.com
You can find our Facebook group "envisions" or follow us on twitter @envisions2014
Thanks for being a part of this journey!
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