To All the Obese People Out There Getting After It, You’re an Inspiration
So, there I was Sunday morning, at 9.20 am, standing on Tamaki Drive in Auckland City.
The port to the left of me, Spark Arena on my right and just up ahead was the starting line. Surrounded by 34,000 people I took a deep breath, filled my lungs with that fresh ocean air and patiently waited for the claxon to sound.
5, 4, 3, 2, 1 burrrrrrr! And we were off. Taking our first steps of the 8.4km journey that is Round the Bays.
Round the Bays is New Zealand’s largest fun run.
The event which happens every year in Auckland city, usually at the beginning of March, attracts upwards of 30,000 participants each year, with 2020 topping the 34,000+ mark.
As you can imagine, with such a vast quantity of people in one place all trying to achieve the same objective, reach the finish line, there is the very real possibility that chaos could ensue.
So, in an attempt to keep some order amongst this monumental gathering the event organizers have come up with a system on how to best begin the ‘race’.
The way it works is that the masses are split into five groups, based on ability, and this determines your starting position.
At the front are the wheelchair athletes and seeded runners (the ones in it to win it). Working backwards from there, the runners are next followed by the joggers and then at the rear of the pack are the walkers/pram pushers.
With this simple system ensuring that ‘race' runs as smoothly as possible, combined with the kind-hearted, courteous, good nature that is shown in abundance by all that attend, the event goes off (for the most part) without a hitch, year in and year out.
I started at the back, as I’d brought my three-year-old son along for the ride, and as we slowly made our way to the starting line his little eyes were lit up, his head bouncing from left to right trying to take in all the excitement that was going around him.
As there are so many people at the beginning, and because we started out at the back, the first kilometre or two was slow. A brisk walk is about all that we could manage until the crowds spread out a little, further on down the road.
The route itself is far from boring. With it being New Zealand’s largest fun run there is no shortage of entertainment to keep you upbeat and smiling along the way.
Local radio stations have marquees set up at various intervals, playing music and shouting encouragement to everyone via microphones and loudspeakers.
There are also live bands and dancers to be admired as you push yourself to make it to the finish.
And of course, there are multiple cameras and screens everywhere documenting the event, as it does appear on the evening news later in the day.
The screens are set up in such a way that they flick from camera to camera showing various locations along the route and the participants as they enjoy this awesome day out.
Everyone from the carefree, happy, smiley walkers at the back to the super-fit, athletic competitors pushing themselves hard at the front of the pack.
I imagine the main purpose of these visual aids is to motivate the people as they make their way along to the finish.
When you see the smiles and carefree laughter from those taking things in their stride and the children who are joking around, showing off on camera you can’t help but chuckle.
And I guess showing the front runners is aimed at giving us a boost of energy and drive to keep going, especially when we are starting to feel ‘the burn’.
But as impressive as these super-fit athletes are, with the fastest male finishing the 8.4km in 26mins 44secs and the fastest female coming in at 29mins 55secs, they weren’t the ones that inspired me the most to keep pushing on when the fierce heat of the Auckland sun was beating down on me and the challenge of pushing an additional 25–30kg began to take its toll.
No, what I took most inspiration from as I jogged and manoeuvred my way through the crowds, were the ‘larger’ entrants who were giving it everything they had to make it to the finish line.
I passed people who would easily weigh in at 300lbs or more, who were out of shape, breathing heavily and still, showing no signs of giving up.
When I wanted to slow down, take a breather and maybe walk for a bit I would look at the determination and fight within these warriors and I’d just keep pushing on.
Seeing others voluntarily put themselves into uncomfortable positions and then not stop until they finished what they had set out to do is where I take my inspiration from and you can see it all around us, in everyday life.
When you see someone enter the gym for the first time, nervous, confused and not knowing what to do, but not backing down.
Good for you!
Or when you drive past someone on the street, power walking up a steep hill, red-faced, sweaty and heavy breathing but they are going for it.
Good for you!
And to all the people that decide to take charge of their life, knowing that it’s going to be a struggle and at times uncomfortable trying to achieve your goals, but they do it anyway.
Good for you!
Having the bravery to go after what you want and not care about what others may think is admirable.
So, if you’re perhaps on the fence, you want to make a change in your life but are afraid of taking the first step, don’t be.
Take a deep breath, fight against that inner voice of fear and go get after it.
You’ll be an inspiration to many when you do.
Thanks for reading! :)
