Guest Post: To Dream ...by Pat Walsh

 * To Dream *

We all have dreams, but how hard we work to achieve them is what sets some people apart. I watched Ben Healy take the Yellow Jersey during the week in the Cycling Tour de France. Listening to him speak it was obvious it was a dream of his and how much effort was put in to actually reaching his goal.

That may be at a professional level and far beyond the level of our talent and time available but it doesn’t mean we can’t all have our own little dreams.

It can be reaching a new longer distance like going from 5k to 10k or finishing a marathon, running a race abroad, lowering your time in a favourite distance or any number of other goals but it is important to have a goal.

When the plan is made and the hours, days and weeks of training lead to fruition then the mental reward makes it all worthwhile. Nothing noteworthy is ever easy. Nobody will hand it to you on a plate. The race day achievement is the reward for all those training sessions.

What will get you out the door on a wet day?
What will have you setting an early alarm to get up and train?
Why are you spending time doing stretches and strength training?
Why do you make an effort with your diet and not over indulge?
What answer do you have when people question your sanity about what and why you are doing something?

There will be hard days, time you will doubt yourself but this is normal and character building to work through it and not give in. 

‘Yes I can’.. ‘Is feidir liom'

On Wednesday evening I pinned a number on my vest, stood on a start line and ran my first race in 226 days. (yes I was counting). That was a dream of mine for a while. The GP visits, the scans, the physio, breaking 3 blue bands doing strength work, the mental resilience needed to follow the plan.  Many hours of doubting, agony, enforced resting, solo run/walking on grass, stretches, gym visits to get to finish a simple 5k. 

That particular race, the BHAA Gas Networks 5k, might not have meant much to most competitors but to me it was dream come through. 

Thanks to everyone for keeping contact and giving encouragement the last few months. It meant a lot to me. 

What is my next dream? hmmm…!

Follow your dreams whatever they may be, grandiose or small.
But I, being poor, have only my dreams; 
I have spread my dreams under your feet; 
Tread softly because you tread on my dreams... Yeats

#pwr