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An Interesting story.

 

So during my recent Ironman race in Lake placid new york, when I got to the run, I had completed the first loop of 13 miles and had started my second loop. I was somewhere at mile 15 or 16 when I had some doubts creep into my very tired mind. I had already DNfed, and I had no tracker, no cell phone or any reflective gear on the course. It was already past sunset and into the night. I was heading out into the dark lonely road with no real street lights. No one knew I was out there. I stopped over the side of the road where a young athletic looking man in an Ironman shirt was sitting on the pavement.

 

I asked if I could kindly use his cell phone to call up my wife to let her know where I was. He politely obliged. I asked her what I should do? I really wanted to complete my journey of 140.6 which meant I had to finish the marathon. I had 10 or 11 miles to go but it was going to quite lonely ahead with now oncoming traffic in the dead of darkness, and perhaps there were bears !

 

She left the decision up to me. I told her in a moment of weakness that there is really no point of me continuing as it would not count anyway except for myself. I informed her maybe I would just come back to town and find her. I hung up and returned the phone.

 

This young man overheard my conversation and simply said “ The last runner I saw went out 15 minutes ahead of you. I think you can catch up“ . I was instantly revitalized and motivated. Yes. Yes I could. I came here to finish the course, and that is what I am going to do. I asked him to kindly redial the number and call my wife and let her know that I had changed my mind and I was off to finish my journey. He noted my bib number in case of an emergency and said “ here take these energy gels, you are going to need them”. I never saw him again for that trip.

 

Now 2 weeks later I am at the greenfield triathlon in Massachusetts in the athletes transition area. Suddenly a young man came up to me and said “ Weren’t you at lake placid recently?” I acknowledged and he says “ I know you, you borrowed my phone on the run course” I was so thrilled to meet my “motivation”. Little did I realize that his name was David Hansen , a 15 time Ironman champion and phenomenal athlete.

 

We had heart warming conversations of our journeys into the world of triathlons before and after the race and he got to meet my family in person. I introduced my wife to him and said “ here is the guy who saved me with his phone” He smiled at my wife and said” yes we have already spoken “.

 

This experience was unique in many respects. Firstly, one never knows how a small conversation, a few words of motivation can change someone’s life (or even a race !). Secondly, we never know where or when we meet strangers that we encounter and when our paths cross and for what reason. Thirdly never underestimate the kindness we can offer nor the kindness that we can receive.

 

We each have a place and purpose to fulfill as we interlock in the vast network of universal consciousness. No matter how small, we each play a vital role.

 

So to everyone out there…..Thank you for who you are, wherever you are, whenever you are. I am happy to help you as I am willing to receive your help.

 

……………….

 

I love you