Breaking free from jail, yes that's what I got to do on Friday 6 December 2013.
It wasn't maximum security or minimum security breakout but a custom thought out escape by Colleen Jacka(event organizer) and myself and we did it.
What was the plan then only a 1,1km swim, then jumping on that trike for a 28km cycle and then a stroll down the road and back of about 1km, and this time getting to walk through the finish line and breaking free from "jail" and any barriers or boundaries I ever had in my life!
I love sport have always loved sport but gave up on it when I was 17 years old. Not because I wanted to but because as I got older and older my legs got worse and worse. I was born with spastic paralysis in both my legs. The nerves have gradually been dying causing my walking to become more and more difficult and having the end prospects of not being able to use my legs. I can honestly say I gave up on sports in the physical but somehow I never gave up on my dream in my heart. This being a sports person had nothing to do with the fame that comes with it, it had everything to do with my love for sports. Giving up on a dream was not the greatest part of my journey. The past 2years has been a process of rekindling this dream.
I was asked what goes through your mind when you are out there in the water, the cycle and that walk, well a few things but here is what went through my mind on Friday
Swimming, couldn't really get to think especially in the beginning with nearly 450 swimmers in the water....was an interesting place to be. I do keep reminding myself to kick, I have this bad habit of not kicking at all and dragging my legs for 1.1km, and trust me they don't complain because they know ahead of them is some work on that trike of ours.
Exiting the water, takes some planning, so what do I think of, I am hoping my helper is there to take me out otherwise it will be me sitting there waiting to be picked up! Luckily I had some amazing friends and volunteers helping me.
Now the work really begins and the talking to my legs starts. The cycle......I can't remind myself to "just keep swimming swimming swimming" as in the movie Finding Nemo but it's all about saying "just keeping cycling cycling cycling".
The one great thing about my trike is I don't have to balance and so one less thing to think of, I won't fall over. It takes something to keep cycling when my legs decide that they don't want to that's when I have to find some thing stronger in myself then just my non functioning legs. I dig deep and keep reminding myself that it will be worth it in the end, it will be so much fun finishing this race, then....why I am doing this, it's just painful, what am I doing......I love sports, I love that I can rekindle my dream, I love finding a hope......I can't do this, it's to hard, why don't I just stay at home and accept my disability and stop being so crazy.....where is that drink of GU, yes that what I need......just keep cycling cycling cycling!!!
And of course the words that come from the other cyclists who come flying past me..."keep going" " nearly there" "your doing amazing".
Yes that's some of my thoughts on that cycle during jailbreak, never mind the wind we had to fight, I felt at some points I was going backwards!
Aha the last hill, how will we get up it when I can't even turn my legs in a circle anymore, I know just put your head down, don't look up and just keep cycling cycling cycling, and that's what I did and oh it was amazing when I hit the top of that hill and free wheeled down to transition.
"Oh wait how am I going to walk now I can hardly move my legs anymore". I sat down put my running shoes on and headed out on my little stroll. Each step painfully hard, what do I think at this stage, "where is that finish line" "I just want a hot bath" "this is such fun" "I love what I get to do" "really people think I am inspiring, I am just trying to fulfill a dream" " one more step, another step" "oh wow I can see the finish line, ok here we go keep walking keep walking, don't trip, pick up your feet" " find that last bit of energy and take that last step into FREEDOM"
FREEDOM at last, and this is just the start of freedom, so many more dreams to come true for me and my life.
"Nothing has ever been accomplished without PASSION"
