500 Kilometre Hill

500 Kilometre Hill

Just when you think you can’t- keep your eyes on the road

This year I became very intimate with one of our charities Hands Across the Water, and was reminded of some of the steps of overcoming challenges on a very personal level.  As part of our fundraising efforts, a team of 15 including OYOB business partners and clients, flew to Thailand for our annual bike ride. Each one of us committing over 500 kilometres of riding to help raise funds. We also had the privilege of meeting the community and at-risk children with Aids that we have been supporting over the last few years.

The experience of staying with the children and seeing firsthand the impact that external funding has on helping them live normal, healthy lives was something that went deeper then just facing a hill. However, the interpersonal challenges we all face are integral to giving back in a more profound and impactful way. And this part of my own journey reflects this very personal challenge. I was reaching deep outside of my own comfort zones and surrendering to a multitude of fears that found myself persevering. At the end of the journey, I came to realise how strong I really was.

“My own brother thought I couldn’t do more than 20k’s”

Connecting to the charity and their needs with such heart, and then coming back to the privileges of Australia was an incredibly humbling experience that has provided profound and overwhelming purpose and drive for my life and my work (which I’ll post about later!)… But for now, let’s get the hill out of the way, a hill that became my mountain.

My own brother thought I couldn’t do more than 20k’s. And well, personally, I had never ridden more than 15k’s in my life.  Before the ride and early on during the first 100k’s, I was already strapped with a number of fears. A massive fear of falling from a bike obviously designed for a 6 footer, on top of pounding and unbearable heat. My body was stiff and sore from stress. And though I had prepped physically. Mentally I had already told myself I could just go on the bus. I was setting myself up for a way out, and safeguarding my ego and my fears of failure.

“We often impose limitations on ourselves, we let other people impose limitations, but it’s not until we test those limitations that we really find what are true potential is”

But amazingly I kept pace, and my team was more than supportive – they were my lifeline. I surprised myself at every turn, all until day 4.

And then, despite all the challenges I had overcome. All the personal physical and mental “go Mary’s” I had worked through, prepped for, and faced. The heat I had conquered. My balance and belief that I could actually ride a bike that far.  Coping with pain, stiffness and aches. I was at my limit, the body began to fight back- my neck and shoulders at the point of agony.

And that’s when I saw this massive hill. My initial thoughts where, there was no way I was going to do it. I was ready for the bus.

The team said, “What goes up must come down”  “There’s always a downhill”. “It’s not that big of a hill”.  There words encouraging, my team supportive, trying to shrink the problem before me.  

So I started. Up, and up.

However, I realised very shortly I couldn’t look up, if I looked up I would ruin myself. It would be too daunting and I would never finish.  So I looked down, firmly on the road and I just peddled. One little piece of dusty, rocky mix of tarmac and bush trail at a time. Just like the little engine that could.  I was the little Mary that did! It was amazing. I had ridden so much of this vertical leviathan. I was gobsmacked at my will and fortitude.

To my relief a small little outcry of a resting spot presented itself, so a few of us took it. However, it was in this rest, which the flood of truth came in.  There was more, and more hill to go, and it still seemed endless. The physical pain instantly engulfed my body- and it all came crashing down.

I wish I could say that I finished that day.  But I didn’t. I finished my total 500+ k’s and I am proud of myself.  But this moment of surrender had such an impact on me. And it went back to what Peter Baines told me after my first 100k’s.  “We often impose limitations on ourselves, we let other people impose limitations, but it’s not until we test those limitations that we really find what are true potential is”.  I learned at camp later that day that there was only 12 more kilometres of hill to go. I could have done it! But I surrendered to my own limitations. Thankfully to the inspiration of giving back to our charity, my team, and my own personal journey- those limitations have happily found a new glass ceiling.

 

Mary Ignatidis

Proud to have helped raise over $50,000 for Hands Across the Water, riding over 500 kilometres in 5 days and helping the 76 children that reside in Home Hug!  

One of my own personal goals is to introduce as many people as possible to Hands Across the Water and support their mission to enrich the lives of disadvantaged children and communities in Thailand. Please say hi, follow, like or comment and I’ll make sure I keep you updated with our plans and how we can all get involved.

#Generosity Economy- Goodwill and Good Giving

#OYOB- Property, People, Passion

#Hands Across the Water

#Doing Good Rewards

See me after my first 100K with Peter Baines:  DGR Bike Ride for Hands Across the Water!!!!