I can and I will. Watch me.

With just over a couple of weeks to go until the 100km run, in an effort to try and take my mind of the relentless suffering that will be involved I have been thinking more about the way to engage the children in their run and make it a more challenging and inspiring event for them.

Children are faced with an endless barrage of distraction from devices and then the constant pressure on them to grow up and find shortcuts. Couple this with the "everybody's equal" approach that can get promoted through much of society - everybody's unique and let's celebrate that. 

I can run 100km, but there are many more things that I can't do... watch me dance and you'll probably give yourself a hernia from laughing, I can't play a musical instrument and forget trying to get me on stage to act. Why, because that's what I have chosen to train for, endless hours of running and sacrifice.  Don't get me wrong.... there are many aspects of being a human where we should all be treated equally, but I want to champion a child's right to flourish in the their own pocket of uniqueness and learn a valuable lesson as a result.

"My 100km is your 5km... your salsa is my awkward stumble..." 

The children are going to run 100km, they are going to run it as a team by completing 1km loops. If one can do 2km and another can do 12km - it just doesn't matter. What does matter is that they try... what does matter is that they push themselves and cross "their finish line" knowing that they tried to achieve something - in fact it would be great if some failed, because in that failure lies the learning.

They will all run with "I can and I will. Watch me" on their t-shirts.... let's take a tiny step to inspire a few to believe that with hard work and effort they can be awesome. Nobody is born with talent, it is nurtured and developed, there are no "hacks" to get there - so with a nod in the direction of the amazing book written by Matthew Syed (You Are Awesome - should be on the curriculum!)  this is my attempt to help some children to understand that they can.

"I can and I will. Watch me." - Carrie Green

This is just a step, but I believe a step in the right direction and hopefully there will be at least one child that will see what can be done if you are prepared to put in the effort, set a crazy goal and just get on with it away from the crowds and the bright lights.

So.... please encourage your children to sign up and run, whether they are runners or not.. it simply does not matter. Let them run their 100...whatever that may be. 

UPDATE

Huge thanks to the Matthew Syed and Kathy Weeks for the generous donation to include a copy of this fantastic book in the goodie bags for the children. 

I sincerely hope that they all read and absorb the message within. A brilliant book for the next generation.