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Inspiration from Amy Palmiero-Williams
The video below tells the inspiring story of Amy Palmiero-Williams. Amy is a 37-year-old single mother of two. Earlier this year she placed first in the Run to the Future 24-hour race. During the event, she ran 130.4 miles in a single day. Her performance landed her a spot with the U.S. national track and field team.
Amy’s accomplishments are obviously impressive, but even more so when you consider that she is a below-the-knee amputee. She must train with and around her residual leg.
As stated within a recent USA Today article:
Many ultrarunners train by doing 20- to 50-mile runs on back-to-back days. Palmiero-Winters cannot, because she must give her residual limb a rest from the pounding and friction that running inflicts. To make up the mileage, she has been doing one 70- or 80-mile training run a week, leaving her house at 8 or 9 p.m. and finishing just before starting work the next morning.
“I don’t want my kids to suffer because of my training,” she says of son Carson, 6, and daughter Madilynn, 4. “I give up a night’s sleep. That’s good training, too, because in a 24-hour race you don’t sleep.”
So here we have a busy, working mother of two who takes a night out of her week to run 70+ miles. She then heads to work the next day without any sleep. This is all done on an artificial leg. Her weekly schedule defies logic.
In the words of Will Smith,
“Being realistic is the most commonly traveled road to mediocrity.”
Amy is everything but realistic. She’s also everything but mediocre. She has set challenging goals for herself and finds a way to make it happen. She’s a real life example of the old saying, when there’s a will, there’s a way…
Hats off to Amy and best of luck with the upcoming races.
PS – Thanks to Walt for passing along this story
10 Comments so far
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DAMN. Hey Ross here’s another one for you. I sure I read it here.
Obsession: a word used by the Lazy to describe the Dedicated….
I change it a little bit to.
Obsession: a word used by the less dedicated to describe the dedicated….
Keep up the good work Ross. This is the best site on the Internet.
ok, so the next time I whine about getting up in the early am to train when it’s still dark, I will have to just slap myself and add at least 2 more rounds to training.
Thanks Ross. This woman is completely focused on her goals and how to accomplish them, regardless of her situation. No excuses – just pure positive energy and the will and drive to move forward. Wow.
If more people is the world had half her heart, what we could accomplish…
“So when I do something, I do it to the best of my ability because you never know if you’re ever gonna get a second chance.”
Spoken like a true champion.
Thanks Ross
It’s extremely interesting to see where people find their motivation to do such things
What can one say? Takes away all existing reasons, excuses not to do ones best..everyday…she redefines focus and determination…it has entirely shifted my mindset.. I hope she realises that, in addition to her own journey in life, she is inspiring and touching so many others along the way.. So admirable and inspirational.. Thank you for sharing this, Ross.
awesome.
Gives me another reason not to whine about my running sessions.
“I don’t want my kids to suffer because of my training, I give up a night’s sleep. That’s good training, too, because in a 24-hour race you don’t sleep.”
Incredible.
Ross, you’re choice of videos & input, continue to make it harder for me to justify my own laziness and mediocrity.
Thanks & God bless ya, bro.
Man! I thought I had problems…
Giving up a night’s sleep for her kids not to suffer from her training… Dam… I’m so lazy…
Thanks Ross! You made my day!
All the best to you!
Come on man do you really think this is cool?
Running crazy all night? For what? Can’t you just make a decent workout instead of killing yourself.
Sorry this is not fun. This is just plain sick to me
Rusi – The key line in your statement is the “to me” reference. It isn’t up to you to determine this woman’s ambitions. If ultra-marathon running is her passion, so be it. I didn’t post this entry in hopes that we will all run through the night.
I know people who view boxing as barbaric. I grew up around involved in the sport. I know others who can’t stand watching 9 innings of baseball. I grew up playing baseball and love watching the game. Different strokes for different folks.
I personally have no interest in marathon running or ultra-marathon running. That doesn’t mean I can’t respect the effort put forth by those who are involved in these activities however.
You cannot choose what others will be passionate about. It is up to the individual.
Whether you despise running or not, it should not be difficult to admire this woman’s dedication to her passion (while still caring for her children and holding down a job).
Ross