Stories
I love a great inspirational story about someone who set a goal then overcame great obstacles to achieve that goal. Here are some of my favorite stories.
WHEN YOU FEEL LIKE GIVING UP – HE LOST OVER 200 POUNDS
In January, 2012, 25-year-old, 5-foot-7½ inch Miguel Blancarte weighed 344 pounds—significantly overweight and not very healthy. A doctor informed him that he wouldn’t live past his mid-40s. Determined to defy this prediction, Miguel made the decision to change his life. He joined a gym, started running, and made substantial, yet reasonable changes in his eating habits. Between January and September of 2012, Miguel dropped 180 pounds. He ran his first 5K race in November of that year.
“When my journey with running began, I had never run more than a street block,” Blancarte said. “I have lost over 200 pounds, and I did this on my own. No surgery, no personal trainer, no ‘magic’ weight-loss pill. Simply a lot of endurance, dedication, grit and self-awareness provided me a second chance at life.”
WHEN YOU FEEL LIKE GIVING UP – SHE OVERCAME INCREDIBLE OBSTACLES
In November 2013, 65-year-old Zoe Koplowitz completed the New York City Marathon in a record-setting 37 hours, 15 minutes—a record that earned her the title, “Slowest woman ever to complete the New York City Marathon.” She wears the title proudly. Zoe isn’t like most of the other runners in the race. She was diagnosed at age 25 with multiple sclerosis, a debilitating disease that attacks the central nervous system and greatly hinders movement. In 1988 she decided to fight her disease and decreasing mobility by tackling a highly unlikely challenge: she would run the New York City Marathon. At the time, she was 60 pounds overweight and could barely walk without her crutches. But none of these challenges deterred her from joining a running club for people with physical disabilities. She worked hard and finished her first marathon in 21 hours, 35 minutes.
For 16 years, Zoe has started and finished each NYC Marathon, each one with a slower time as the disease has weakened her body. But she refuses to quit, recognizing that “having a disability didn’t have to define what I could do.” Zoe is now an author (“The Winning Spirit; Life Lessons Learned in Last Place”), motivational speaker, and an inspiration to so many who are tempted to give up when it gets tough. “…What I do is a metaphor for life, just like the marathon itself. It means you can get somewhere by putting one foot after another.”
(You can hear more of Zoe’s story at https://myhero.com/audio-zoe-koplowitz)