THE GOOD FIGHT

As you know, Suzie Pinstripe, one of our writers at BYB is a runner.  If you know anything about runners, it's a tough gig. Many hours of hard work and the grind in whatever race you challenge yourself in can be brutal. But if you're a runner... you love the challenge. 

You look for it.... and you look forward to your moment. There is no better feeling than finishing. After all, it's what you worked for all those months before.

Today is the New York City Marathon. Suzie ran it last year, and today, thousands will run again. You will hear many stories from individuals and why they are there. As many start the race, there are certain personal reasons for finishing.  Perhaps an individual realizes that this goal will catapult themselves in their own lives,  maybe another marathon or maybe inspire them to push harder in whatever else comes there way.  Maybe you lost a loved one and you dedicate the race to them, like this darling, Lysa.

A woman who signed up for herself... and changed her focus once her grandmother had passed just a few days ago. Whatever that focus is, whatever the purpose, she is there to do her best "HER."  It started as Lysa wanting to do it because she always wanted to, but now, it's "4 Nana"... and no doubt that will push her further.

I've even written about a woman named Kimberly before.  A runner in every sense of the word.  Hard working, dedicated to whatever is in her way, and climbing the mountains in life to be the best, not of all mankind... but for herself to build confidence and for the love of the sport. Kimberly's ran plenty of marathons, and recently, she did a Triathlon to prove she could!

Read DON'T STOP BELIEVING...EVER. She's an inspiration.

Today someone else is running that we personally know. It's someone close to the BYB family.

It's Amber Sabathia. She heads a team that will run today in the New York City Marathon and I tip my cap to all these courageous women today, who have found purpose to run, be it to better themselves or to dedicate it to others, even bring awareness. Love it! It's inspiring!

It's a life lesson.  Get a goal. Work toward the goal. Win.  Sure, if you don't win it all, it's OK. Win for you! You set the pace! You set the goal!  Push yourself. Fight. Dedicate. Inspire.  You can do it... these women are.

Happy Sunday.

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DON'T STOP BELIEVING...EVER

I believe in pushing yourself.  I believe that if you don't try... someone else will take your place.  That leaves you wondering why you didn't go for it in the first place.  It's a struggle... and fighting to be the best, or making it to the next level is probably the hardest thing anyone can ever do.  The victory is sweet though, and once you achieve it, you don't ever want to give that up...ever!

There are several athletes in my life that have always inspired me.  I fondly speak of Jorge Posada.  A guy with the guts to accomplish anything he wanted to on the field, but was told throughout his young career that he just didn't have the talent, and so he decided that "Can't" wasn't in his vocabulary. After his career was over, he had 5 championships and is forever loved by Yankee fans everywhere.

Enter 2 people that I want to talk about this morning. Enjoy this, while your having your coffee. Be inspired.

One is a guy named Steve Delabar, a pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays.  The other is a runner and athlete named Kimberly Roots.  2 people, 2 totally separate stories... but both truly inspiring because they never gave up.

Steve Delabar wanted to be a major league pitcher and tried hard until one day, his arm literally popped.  His story is complete below in a Real Sports story I watched.  Anyway, once the arm popped, at that point he knew he pushed himself too much and was hurt, possibly for good.  He went back to his home state of Kentucky.  He became a substitute teacher and helped coach high school baseball.  During his coaching, he started to realize that through a program created by former Texas Rangers coach Tom House, he was building arms strength.  One day he tested himself... and suddenly something happened... he was inspired again.  He believed he could do it again...and so he did.


Steve Delabar came all the way back and pitches for the Toronto Blue Jays. He was scouted when the Jays got wind of his comeback, and he went up the ranks quickly this time, because now, he had the strength, the stuff and the will... he COULD do it.

(Photo Credit: Red Five Productions)
The other story is about a woman named Kimberly Roots... a runner, an athlete and a friend with more will and desire to climb any mountain that gets in her way.  She's determined... she's a believer.  My close friends and I know just how determined she is, but I guess one day she even surprised herself.  Kim Roots recently competed in her first half-Ironman distance marathon.  She wrote this about the achievement: " I did something that a few years ago seemed impossible: I swam 1.2 miles, biked 56 miles and ran 13.1 miles to complete my first half-Ironman distance triathlon."

(Photo Credit: Red Five Productions)
Some may think this is small potatoes... You know what? You try it.  This is something Kimberly Roots was unsure she would be able to do... but one thing crept in... she believed that with support, training and drive... she could and she would.  Guess what? She did. After swimming over 1 mile, biking 56 miles and running over 13... victory.  No one can take that away from her... no one.

So what's the lesson today?  You want to accomplish something? Go get it.  You believe that you can climb the mountain of life? You climb it.  No one will do it for you.  It's a life lesson... push yourself to the next level if you believe... and once you get there... don't stop believing.

Shoutout to Steve Delabar and Kimberly Roots... You've inspired me today. Keep going...

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