Source: Carol Cooke – Becoming an Elite Para Cyclist – Part 1
I ‘ll admit, I’m scared to death of what I’m trying to do. In a way, if my regular life wasn’t already killing me, I might not have had the courage to even try.
But the best way to deal with fear is to prove to yourself that you’re not alone, others have come before you and succeeded, you, too, can achieve the impossible.
So I would like to share the story of Carol Cooke. In many ways she and I fight against the same obstacles. Fatigue is one of the hardest things that I deal with. I am always looking around and seeing people carrying bigger loads than I do and seemingly doing it with ease. I, on the other hand, work just shy of twenty hours a week, sleep between eight and ten hours a night, and spend all the rest of my time either eating or riding a bicycle and yet I constantly feel on the edge of oblivion.
Seeing Carol succeed with the same difficulties plus a hefty helping of her own unique challenges gives me hope that I, too, can make this happen.
One day, sure, I might have to make the decision to not ride a bike anymore, but that day is a long, long way off. One day I might have to make the call that my dream is beyond my reach. I might have to decide that reality is just too harsh for me to ever make something of myself as an athlete.
That day is not today.
Ride on.
November 18, 2015 at 8:53 AM
Hey Ferret, I’ve been following you with interest for a few months.This current post about Carol Cooke makes me very excited. My daughter is a cyclist, and a pretty gutsy one at that. She has just started a program at Temple University to obtain a PhD in physical therapy. I have had multiple sclerosis for 40 years. It’s been a real sleigh ride, but I’m in a very exciting place right now in my life. I’ll share more about it anytime if you’re interested. I believe that the right people appear when you’re ready to receive their gifts. Thank you for making yourself available via your blog, and thank you for sharing about Carol Cooke. In health, Peggy Min Nashville, Tennessee
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November 18, 2015 at 9:03 AM
this is me https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQQloNcFBl0
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November 18, 2015 at 7:18 PM
Peggy, that was a really moving video. Thank you for sharing.
And thank you for reading my blog! I don’t have a big followership, but I do have big dreams. I don’t know what, if any of them, I will be able to realize, but I figure I have to try. If I can inspire anyone else along the way then it will be worthwhile.
Tell your daughter best of luck at Temple! Also tell her: wear a helmet, lock both her wheels with a BIG kryptonite, and remember that in the battle between car versus cyclist, the winner is the one who doesn’t get dead.
Keep rolling!
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