Runner Insight

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2008 brought some pretty amazing changes. We had been attending a series of weekly meetings that revolved around the concept of the Law of Attraction and manifesting the best for your life.  One of the main themes that kept popping up throughout the meetings was “What is your passion in life?”  And people would talk about this or that, and be so enthusiastic about their passions: there were a handful of real estate investors, and there were people in the community social working type professions. And beauticians and nail techs, and people involved with multi-level marketing and direct sales and various other things. And everyone was full of inspiration and ideas.  

I however would sit in silence, not knowing how to participate. I was 44 years old, soon to be 45 and while I had a wonderful, comfortable life, I couldn’t really verbalize what my passion was.

Well okay, I did know what my passion was; it was running, but how in the world could I serve others while monetizing my passion for running? Eventually the drip effect did its work on me during all those meetings along with the CD’s I had been listening to. 

 After many months and some unexpected spiritual growth, I had an epiphany of sorts.  I’m legally blind, and even though it’s much harder for me to run, I still manage to do it routinely, because it is my passion.  One evening a truly inspired thought came to me: VisionRunner.com – I could start a blog about being a blind runner.  It would be about my life as a blind runner, and about overcoming obstacles and how it’s not so much what happens to you as what you do with it that defines your success in the world. Hopefully it would be an inspiration to others overcoming difficulties in their lives since we all have them in one way, shape or form.

Eventually it turned into this blog: www.RunnerInsight.com, and I went with Vision Runner as my tag name.  I am now using my unique set of circumstances and my passion for running to inspire others.  I started my blog in September of 2008, and this spring I have embarked on a new mission in conjunction with my blog. It’s called Run Over to Ellen’s and it’s a 1,222 mile virtual run to the Ellen TV Show in Burbank, CA to raise $30,000 for Guide Dogs for the Blind.  (www.RunOverToEllens.com)

I guess it’s true that as we grow and mature, we become more about “What can I do to serve others?” rather than “How can I help myself?”  Using my passion for running to help others is the most rewarding gift the Universe has given me.  By going deep within myself, I was able to find my passion, make it uniquely mine and change my reality.

How ’bout it?

-Vision Runner

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Out of all my running stories, this one takes first prize for dumbest move on my part.

I had stopped driving after my diagnosis of Retinitis Pigmentosa, so most nights when I had to go to the hospital to work my graveyard shift, I would get a ride or take a taxi.  One night in late summer about a year after my diagnosis, I decided to run to work.  I wanted to try out a new headlamp I just got, and what a perfect opportunity, since my shift at the hospital didn’t start until 11:00 PM.

There was a workout room connected to the hospital, and I could shower and clean up before my shift, so I put on my running clothes and put my work clothes into a backpack. Giving myself plenty of time to have a quick weightlifting session too, I headed out the door, with headlamp on and started down the long hill where I lived.

So far, so good.  My headlamp seemed to be working well. I was pleased.  It wasn’t until I got on to the busy street that would take me to within a few blocks of the hospital, that I ran into some trouble.  Thinking I was being smart, I got onto the sidewalk. Although the bike path alongside the road was smoother, I was worried about not being seen, as I had no blinkers or flashing lights on me: just the headlamp, which was now starting to feel heavy and clumsy on my head. It kept slipping, and I had to keep re-adjusting it. The sidewalk would be safer from traffic, but it had a lot of uneven spots in it, too.

I was running along, making good time, and naturally I caught one of those uneven spots with my toe, a section of cement sticking up about 3″.  I went down fast and hard, reaching out with my hands to stop myself, hitting my chin on the pavement and catching the full brunt of my body weight with my right elbow.

After a couple of moments of shock and processing, I realized what had happened. I did a body check.  Yep all my teeth were still where they needed to be.  But my arm hurt and I had some nasty road rash on my hands.  And now I had to decide what to do next: I’m about half way there, so do I turn around and head back home?   Or do I continue on running to work?

This story is a little too long to complete in one installment, so please join me on Wednesday to continue the adventure….

How ’bout it?

-Vision Runner

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