Sentimental witterings

I suppose this is my end of year wrap-up, thanks for everything 2019, here's to 2020 post... just a little bit late!
I'm feeling all reflective after last month's round of talks at my old school, Websters High, so you'll have to forgive the sentimental tone of today's blog post. I was there to talk about the project and what stage I'm at in the run up to (yet another) ludicrous idea for a challenge. It dawned on me just how many ups and downs there have been over the last 18 months - broken bones, race pull-outs, sweat, blood, tears, the scrapping of certain ideas and realising of other, new possibilities. I've met a heap of people, spoken to countless children and teens (and hopefully gone some way to provide a little spark of inspiration), and found, or perhaps lost, myself in the middle of the mountains in Vietnam.

All to prepare for 5 arduous days in the Amazon Jungle.

And despite there being some definite confidence slumps over the last 18 months, I'm feeling ready to give these next 5 months one hell of a go. This is perhaps something to do with a meeting I had with Rock2Recovery's Kenny Watson (no relation!). Rock2Recovery are the benefiting organisation from what I'm planning to do and talking to someone at the heart of what this organisation does has given me the kick I needed to shove aside my wavering confidence and tell myself to get a grip.

What impressed me the most about this organisation is it's lack of focus on the negative. While stats show homelessness, deterioration and suicides among military veterans, this organisation refuses to focus on this. They recognise that individual mindset is key to recovery and they work tirelessly to help every person they come across discover that mindset that will lead to recovery. They are realistic and innovative, not bound by a restrictive mental health recovery policy of just two or three techniques.
Their "pop-up clinics" are based in places with an anonymous feel, where every person passing through the doors could be there for any reason. Nobody is judged or feels judged. They are contactable 24/7; if someone needs help, Rock2Recovery will do their utmost to get them the help they need, whether homeless, suicidal or in crisis.
But more than this, Rock2Recovery doesn't just help military veterans, they also help serving personnel as well as their families, including children. They recognise that the mental effects of service don't just affect the person in question but also everyone around them.

And it was something I found myself saying to the array of faces (some interested, some quizzical, some the epitome of teenage boredom) last month: "you've got to find your reason; the thing that makes getting up at stupid o'clock in the morning worth it, the thing that makes crying your eyes out at the side of the road because you're injured again worth it, or the umpteen different things you sacrifice - namely your sanity - worth it."
Rock2Recovery, or rather the reason for their very existence, is my reason and it will always be enough to make me straighten my shoulders and tell myself what I'm doing is worth it.

With that in mind, training will be upped a notch this month when I step into a very scary looking laboratory in Abertay University's Sports Research department. Heat, humidity and altitude are on the cards for the next 5 months and I can't tell you how excited I am!

For now, over and out, the runner with a hell of a lot to do before June...