EARNED NOT GIVEN

This is the highest wisdom that I own; freedom and life are earned by those alone who conquer them each day anew.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

They say a picture can paint a thousand words and I guess in turn create a multitude of interpretations. Yet what shines through in this picture to me is one of pride unity and personal achievement.

Me competing first time as and Elite athlete and only Northerner in the UK team pictured here with current UK OCR Champion and all round good guy Tristan Steed, Centre speedster Rich Riley a non swimmer yet still her to take on this Epic Challenge and to his right ex boxer Eddie Whetton also inhibited by I.T band troubles and last but certainly not least Rosanna Kuit all rounder and OCR world championship competitor our official photographer.

In the words of Coach Pain were all here to conduct our business. for me and team mate Stuart Neail pictured below it was all about competing well and keeping our Bands after having them cut off at last years European championships and UK champs on the last obstacle.

Tristan was here for the European Champion trophy as was Eddie in age category after some great results for them this year and at last years OCR World Championships.

Coupled with the fact we were all representing Team UK on foreign soil , I think I can say there was a lot at stake.

We had all earned the right to be here but earning the right to be here doesn't mean you get the payout as were often reminded in life. The best thing I can speak off now is about attitude and perseverance in the face of adversity..

Think about it for a minute! EARNED NOT GIVEN is what is emblazoned on the finishers band if you complete every obstacle its not simply about who can run the fastest its also about being able to navigate this course and its many obstacles. Like life when the chips our down its our character which shines through and keeps us in the game.

Above shows Stuart Neail completing the final obstacle after 10 attempts and being stuck on the platinum rig for an hr then having to tackle this beastly final multi-rig, which also took me five attempts the first having lost grip on the final swing as my forearms were destroyed...

This day I was blessed to see many beautiful moments and also experience the elation of not just competing with and against the best athletes in Europe but to complete every obstacle and cross the finish line with band in tact and immense pride in my heart...

This was so much more than keeping the band, the band just symbolised an objective I had set out on two years ago that had many ups and downs, hours spent training and perfecting, learning, unlearning, making mistakes.

And living my mantra, Never ever quit no matter what! Don't get me wrong an informed retreat is often useful in order to move forward and to lose is also par for the course.

However defeat is optional and as a proud Mancunian lad from Miles platting its not in my genes to accept defeat, EVER.

Pictured above on the platinum rig sporting a pair of Nike huaraches with cushioned soles and also as there sock inners and were the only trainers I could get to fit after spraining my ankle last week at Total ninja in Trafford park the day before the great Manchester run. where I was hoping for PB . Funny how life can be sometimes be as if I hadn't got the injury I would have been so focused on the run I perhaps wouldn't of noticed the fellow runner at 8K pictured below struggling here as her CK levels had spiralled leaving her disoriented and in need of assistance to finish.

Arriving home last night , I checked my emails and the woman pictured had tracked me down and expressed her gratitude for doing what we guys in the OCR world do for each other week in week out. And on that note ill end by saying there is no I in team and together we all achieve more and I think we all showed that in Germany this weekend.