If you read this site regularly you might remember my article titled “Would The Lady In The Shoe Shop Shut Up & Mind Her Own Business Please?”
It’s where I complain about this lady applying her own limiting thoughts to my son Jack when he told her he was going to run the Gold Coast Half Marathon.
She obviously didn’t think he could run it.
Turns out she was right.
Jack didn’t run the Half Marathon.
You see, what happened 12 days out from the race was that Jack went for a run of what he thought would be about 21 kms – the distance of a Half Marathon.
When we measured the run we found he’d run 35 kilometres. That’s just 7 km less than a full marathon.
“Oh. Well I know I can run a half marathon then. I might as well run the full marathon,” he said.
He Ran The Full Marathon
So that’s what he did (that’s him in the white shirt) – yesterday he ran the full Gold Coast Marathon.
And So Did 15 yo Harry
But there’s something else I didn’t mention to the lady in the shoe shop (or in the article about it).
I didn’t mention that my other son, Harry, was running the full marathon too.
That lady would have gone off her nut if she found out that Harry was running the marathon and his training was going to be just 4 runs.
Yep, 4 runs.
2 of those runs were less than 4 kilometres.
And Harry is 15 years old.
So yesterday Harry (in the blue shirt) did his first marathon too.
Good stuff lads.
Cheers
Brendon
P.S: This page talks about the 2009 Gold Coast Marathon. It’s now July 20, 2010 – Jack ran the Half Marathon at this year’s Gold Coast race on July 4 – in 1 hr 33 minutes.
Then, on July 18, he completed in the grueling 96 km Kokoda Challenge team event with his brother Harry, 2 mates and a teacher.
The lads won and managed to break the old schoolboy record.
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Great effort Jack and Harry.
Congrats to all!
I noticed you can view the marathon results & times in their website: http://live.timingsports.com/
For a minute I actually thought you were going to apologize to that lady!
Brilliant Stuff – you guys always impress me!
NOW… You must try to return those shoes (to the same lady) and use the excuse they did not do the job you purchased them for! If you wanted full marathon shoes, that is what you would have purchased in the first place.
I am quite sure you could do this very well with a straight face!
Unfortunately, I’m guessing she would be to stupid to learn from her mistake. What a shame, comes back to basic business theory and some people will never get it. But that is why she is selling shoes and getting bad publicity!
Can’t wait to hear how the Kakoda Challenge goes – after they find their way…..
You should be a very proud dad (as if it is not obvious that you are)! I love the lesson that is learned here and I would have loved to have had it when I was their age. Nothing is impossible. Even if people tell you it is. Tell them they can apply that anywhere.
Thanks guys
Yep Tom, my wife and I absolutely love the fact that we’ve taught our kids they can do anything.
It’s been a deliberate strategy to get them thinking that.
I had a fantastic meal with my kids about 6 months ago. We’re sitting there and Harry says “You know Dad, since the ride I feel like I can do anything I set my mind to. Nothing’s impossible.”
Then the other 2 said the same thing.
It’s wonderful to see them accept 100% that they can do anything. There is no one tiny bit of doubt.
They just accept that they can do it – regardless of what “it” is.
Cheers