I’ve always been one to focus on the positive and I have to admit that it drives me nuts when I hear someone complaining about that “insert ailment here” that kept them off their bike for a few weeks. I know how disappointing it must have been for them to miss that race and I agree that being in pain is no fun at all. It may have felt like forever, but a few weeks is just a drop in the bucket.
Then I want to tell them about truly inspirational people who have overcome the odds like Josh Dueck. It was the video below that first brought him to my attention. Don’t get me wrong, he didn’t magically begin to walk again but you’ll have to watch the video to see what I’m talking about:
I’ve always admired Tara Llanes’ “never give up” attitude as well. Aaron Larocque is making a documentary on her story which I’m looking forward to seeing when he releases it (release date is still TBD). You can see a bit of her story in the clip below:
This is a pre-trailer to a film with Tara Llanes. The film follows her and other paraplegic athletes overcoming the challenges of their injuries.
Hearing their stories puts my own injury in perspective, it too is just a drop in the bucket. Wait, you didn’t know I was injured? I’ve alluded to it here and there so here’s the condensed version: It happened on April 10, 2009, when I fell from the monkey bars while doing an obstacle course and did some pretty significant soft-tissue damage to my ankle. It was a career ending injury and I’m a long ways from running again. However, I know that one day I will be able to run and when I’m having a bad day I think of people like Josh and Tara and their determination. Instead of complaining about how hard or painful something is, I set milestones for myself and celebrate when I achieve them.
Who inspires you? Starting in 2012 I’ll be featuring inspiring athletes. They don’t necessarily have to be cyclists, just people who’ve overcome the odds. Drop me a line at mtnbikinggirl@gmail.com and tell me about them!
I remember meeting Tara before her injury. She, Beth Coates and Dave Cullinan visited our shop before the Cactus Cup - I forget what year. They were all part of the KHS team at the time. Cully was a nut - but Tara was so outgoing. She’s pretty awesome.