3. Motivation

Exhausted, I'm laying on the bed broken and spent. Like a used dish rag that has been through the wringer. Unfortunately I can't sleep. Probably too high on adrenalin from the madness I had just put my body through, or maybe just too tired to consider sleep.  Nevertheless it’s hot, my body is aching, but my mind is racing.

If you recall I started this madness to raise funds for Kids Haven, a rehabilitation centre for street children. I'm laying there broken and battered like my dog's chew toy.  I start making little calculations, tallying up all the well wishes, promises and donations I have managed to collect for Kids Haven, well wishes, more than I could count so many saying "you're doing a good thing"  or "wow you're a good man to do this" even countless saying "you're better than I am " and "no matter how hard I tried I could never" unfortunately, cash monies collected equal a sum total of zero.

How could this be? I've put it out there the kids need help. I've spread the word of what I'm doing. I've been doing this for almost a year the kids should have millions by now.  I honestly had no idea it would be this difficult.  I was under the impression the athletic stuff would be the hardest.  Turns out I couldn't be more wrong.  

I think it was time to change my strategy, I figure if I'm going to make any kind of impact I will need to finish well and get noticed, hopefully even get a sponsor. So I started training, when I wasn't training, I was campaigning.  I'd ride my bike to work, which just for the record is such a good idea.  Especially for cheapskates like myself the saving on the fuel bill was astounding.  I was getting stronger, more used to being on the bike, saving money, win win. 

Except of course when the idiots were not trying to kill me.  I find it really difficult to understand, we cyclists take almost no space on a road yet people feel the need to pass us close enough to smell our goo's.  Almost as if they see you and think... hmm, I have some dust on the left side of my car... that spandex warrior will work really well to get it off. Then they wonder why we take up the entire road if we don't need to. I'll explain why we do that right now; we're just giving ourselves enough space if indeed we need to swerve away from an overzealous car clean freak.  After all we do not want to leave a nasty snot stain on your windscreen do we?  Apologies, as you can tell it does occasionally get a bit hair raising out there. 

I'm cycling, working out, swimming, running, doing everything I should have done before I foolishly tackled the race of death...death by stupidity.  And believe me when I say it is stupid to attempt an ultra triathlon when you are ill prepared.  So for now, when I am not training, I am at the PC doing the much dreaded networking.  Prior to this I was BBC (born before computers).  Facebook was just a site to find jokes and funny pictures, I had never heard of Twitter and blogging was some kind of secretion stemming from the nose that was never to be spoken about.  Now I am doing the posting, telling the jokes, trying to draw attention to my own little campaign, my idea of making the world a better place. Trying to do what I can to make a difference. Getting the word out there.

A typical session for me would be cycle to work in the morning... work.... cycle home.  Try not to puke for an hour, run to the gym. At the gym it is some kind of combination of swim, spin, run or circuit then repeat. A total workout of about 4 to 5 hours for the day. After that it's on the PC, telling you guys about it. I'm talking, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, any media mode I could find, I'm getting the word out. On the plus side all this exercise has my gut move from a barrel, leaning more towards a braai pack, and on a good day with a bit of imagination, if you squint your eyes just right and look directly at the sun you might even consider it a six pack.

You need to understand something about me.  Before I started this whole campaign, it would take me up to a year to say something to you.  I was always the quiet guy in the corner watching everyone at the party.  Kept my goings on really to myself, hardly said a word until I knew everything there was to know about you, what you liked, what annoyed you, what were your limitations, that way I knew just how far to go before you'd snap (my neck).  And I am unfortunately one of THOSE... those who will find a weakness, and tease, terrorize, torture and play until you can take no more and you will still love me for it.  For as torturous as I am once you get to know me,  you will always know to rely on me when you're stuck up a tree wearing nothing but a sock and a hair band. You will rely on me to tease you endlessly about it... after I help you through whatever the problem is. And now, it is Kids Haven I have in my sights, and they will not be getting rid of me for a long time.

Admittedly it has been a long and arduous road, with many up's and downs. Full of financial, physical and emotional challenges. I’m sure I'm not the easiest guy in the world to live with on the best of days, but now I have cycle gear scattered all about the library, gym equipment has overthrown the lounge, the kitchen is my own private science lab and the laundry room is just a nightmare. But I have been very lucky... I still manage to attain all my appendages regardless, we will see how long.

The hardest for me was a few weeks ago after endless campaigning, networking, all I had been getting was the usual religious and spiritual replies from everyone and not really any positive feedback, I read this post,  http://www.timeslive.co.za/sport/other/2014/08/01/kids-haven-protege-wins-medal-for-south-africa

Turns out we are doing something, realize it or not and all we can do is keep at it. Kids Haven produced a Commonwealth medal winner they must be doing something right.  I have no choice but to keep doing what I am and hopefully I'm lucky enough to inspire one of these kids in the same way.