From the Ironman
December 4th, 2007
So every now and again, on a Saturday afternoon, I’ll find myself in front of the TV flipping channels when that damn Ironman Kona recap comes on. You know the one. First they follow the race leaders, but after those men and women have finished, they focus on a handful of normal people (or outstanding people) and tell their story. Like sister Madonna Buder, the 75+ year-old nun who competed in the grueling race for something like the 17th time. Or the double leg amputee competing in his first Ironman, just to prove to others with disabilities that they can do anything – ANYthing.
By the way, why do I call it the “damn” Ironman Kona recap? Because I cry ever friggin’ time.
But the quote that grabbed my attention this year was from an interview with Charlie Plaskon, the 64 year-old Grandfather who has been blind since birth:
“You can’t focus on what you don’t have, because you’ll never have it.”
Profound? Not really. Meaningful? Yes. Applicable to you and me? Absolutely.
Other posts by Spike.
olivier Blanchard says:
Doh!!! I missed it again.
I should understand Charlie’s thing, but I don’t: You can focus on a goal or on the object of your desire - even though either might be out of reach, right?
What was he talking about? Inner strength? Passion?
(What was the context?)
December 4th, 2007 at 1:54 pmSpike says:
You’re totally right, O. I believe the context for Charlie was about sight (or not having it).
And don’t worry, I’m sure their air it 30 times more…
December 4th, 2007 at 3:42 pmChristy says:
Yeah, that quote sounds like it flies in the face of the quote, “…what you focus on you find.” (A short-cut to quoting the whole thing, of course.)
I think he has a very good point — some things you just maneuver around, rather than trying to focus on/find it. I mean, if you’re focusing on having passion for something you’re doing, maybe you’re just doing the wrong thing.
December 5th, 2007 at 8:04 amKyle says:
I lost it when the race official told the older lady she missed the cutoff for the marathon portion by 3 seconds.
December 5th, 2007 at 2:17 pmSpike says:
Yeah, that really wasn’t cool. I know rules are rules, but come on, it wasn’t like it would effect anything except her getting to fulfill her dream.
December 5th, 2007 at 2:21 pmCatch Up Lady says:
Oh man, in years past this man has run with his son who is severley handicapped - he literally pulls him behind him on a special raft for the swimming portion, pushes him in a sort of buggy for the marathon and then has a special two person bike. I mean, you thought the 75 year old nun was a tear jerker - I just stopped crying from like the 2003 Ironman…
Here’s an article from 2006: http://media.www.bcheights.com/media/storage/paper144/news/2006/01/19/News/running.The.Inspired.Race-1477967.shtml
December 5th, 2007 at 4:40 pmolivier says:
3 seconds? They did that? That’s pretty rough.
December 5th, 2007 at 5:59 pm