Have you ever woke up one bright morning and had the irresistible urge to run? And I don’t mean just up the street or around the block… I mean run, until your legs ache and you shins groan and your whole body shouts with pain and triumph!
No, you’re right… I have never woken up with that desire either. But just imagine what it must feel like to do that every day, for 5 years straight. To rise with the breaking light of day and just run until you can’t run anymore. And then get up and do it all over again. Every day without fail. How far could you go? What people would you meet? What adventures might you run through?
In late August this past year, 61 year old grandmother, Rosie Pope Swale, completed her 5 year circumnavigation of the globe by foot. Let me repeat that… a woman in her Sixties, ran by herself, completely unassisted, for 5 years straight, across the entire face of this huge planet. And not only that, she pulled all her food, gear and clothes behind her the entire time!
Her reason for doing it… raise awareness for cancer. In 2002 her husband died unfortunately of prostate cancer. Racked with sorrow, Rosie decided she needed to get out of the house and DO SOMETHING. And since running was always one of her greatest releases, she just started to run. And never stopped.
She’s ran through -65 degree winters in Siberia, suffered pneumonia and frostbite, been hit by a bus and suffered numerous injuries and stress fractures along the way. But she’s also encountered hundreds of helpful strangers along the way. People who provided food, or shelter or laughter and words of support. In fact, over her journey, she filled 52 notebooks full of people’s encouragement.
“It’s about the magic of people”, she says. The one thing that defines us, that brings us all together is Human Kindness.
Here is a woman of unbelievable courage and strength. Who ran an average of 18 miles a day. And yet, she has the most childlike, joyous energy. It’s like she’s tapped into some invisible ocean of positivity through which no goal is too great. And for me this is the true source of her inspiration.
As she says herself…”It’s a journey that came out of sorrow and pain and heartache, but it’s a journey that has turned to joy.”
Dream big, SuperForest. All it takes it putting one foot forward, and the next foot, and the next. Before you know it you’ll have crossed continents… and achieved the impossible. Just like Rosie!
So get up and get running!
For more inspiration, check out Rosie’s site here.
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