A DREAM becoming a reality...never give up on your HOPES & DREAMS...be patient but persistant

In June 2011, I had this crazy idea to run a marathon on each continent in 1 year, and to do this to raise funds for the widows and orphans in SA and to inspire people to follow their hearts and live their dreams and to LOVE LIVING LIFE! Well yes... I thought I was going crazy but I was also secretly so excited...I love adventure...I love travelling and I love running...so the perfect match ;) So I sheepishly told my cell group that evening that I had had this crazy idea and that I had no idea of the what, how, when....but just felt this was part of my purpose! They were very polite & encouraging ;)

So life carried on as normal...but not a day went by without me thinking of 7x7 and how incredible it would be and that there is more to life that waking up, going to work, earning a pay check etc...you know the drill...and I whispered this adventure to a few people who naturally thought I'd lost the plot!

Between June and December tons happened...I'll do another blog post sometime to explain the details..but just to keep you in the picture, I felt called to resign from my corporate job, a good job, well paying, it didn't make logical sense etc...so in obedience I did, I sold my house in JHB, bought a small flat in Ballito and simplified and uncluttered my life a whole deal!

In December 2011 I mentioned my 7x7 dream to my running partner Harry Botha one Saturday morning while we were running out at Holla through the sugar cane fields...(Ill have to dedicate a post to tell you Harry's story another day - what an inspiration...He is 71 years old, started running when he retired at 65 and has already run the BIG 5 global marathons - so no excuses you lot...start running today...)..and he said he had not thought of a goal like that as a marathon on each continent - he had focussed on the Big 5 but 3 of those are on the same continent...but to leave it with him and he would research etc...so the next day or 2 I received an email from Harry telling me about the Seven Continents Running Club www.sevencontinentsclub.com/ WHAT ...so you mean there are other crazy people out there with the same idea! So Harry and I submitted our forms and deposits to enter the Antarctica Marathon...this was in December 2011 and we received confirmation that our forms and deposits were received and we were confirmed for 2016! 2016 ..thats 5 years away! Yes, there is a FIVE year waiting list! Harry will be 75 then and ill be 36! Well I guess we have to wait our turn! They only take 100 people a year! I love this, this was Harry's reply e-mail to the organiser:

"Wow 2016 is a life time away. While my running partner has time on her side I have just turned seventy and for me the clock seems to be ticking a great
deal faster than ever before. Hopefully in that year I will still manage
without a walking stick."

So we accepted 2016 and life continued on a rollercoaster of a ride having left corporate in Feb 2012, worked for a NPO for 6 months and now finding my feet in this place of being "self employed".

Then on Wed 1st August 2012 I received the SCC members general newsletter on all the upcoming events and 1 sentence in particular stood out to me...there is ONE 2013 antarctica entry available to someone who is up for a challenge to raise US$ 25 000 for Oceanitees www.oceanites.org/ so being me I enquired about the details and the requirements etc..And in my mind I kept thinking..thats almost R200 000 - is that possible....? 

Well, if you don't try, you won't know...and Mandela's wise words rang in my mind "It always seems impossible until its done", what have I got to loose by trying...nothing but a lot to gain if I do reach this massive target!

So after much deliberation I decided I should take on this massive challenge its an opportunity and a challenge and I'm up for it! So with sweaty palms and butterflies in my tummy I pressed the send button on my email with the form attached, I had been told once they received the form it was a done deal and I was it! And I waited in anticipation for the confirmation that they had received my form..

And the next day I received the mail expecting the confirmation and it said "unfortunately they did not have an opening for a female" - its shared accommodation on the ship and there is only a bed available in a guys dorm...Ah...I was so disappointed you have no idea, I had done all my homework, plucked up the courage to do this and it all ended in huge disappointment!

But then...a month later with the persistence that I have I thought i'd drop a note to SCC to see if there had been any changes and the response said "actually we are working on it and they would confirm the next day"...so I anxiously waited and received nothing but was patient and waited a few more days checking my email every 5 minutes and then in my patient but persistent manner I dropped them a reminder note "any updates?" and...the reply read "unfortunately not but they could confirm me as the 2014 fundraiser"...oh well thats okay I guess its still 2 years earlier than 2016 and gives me time to ensure I reach the huge fundraising goal! I'll just have to do my 7x7 in 12 months, March 2013 - March 2014 and not in 1 calendar year!

And then... on 13th September 2012 I received the following...

Lara-

GREAT NEWS! We had some last minute changes and can now 100% confirm you to fundraise on the 2013 Antarctica Marathon Adventure. Please confirm with me that you are still able to fundraise and I will send you the confirmation materials.

Best,

Jen Ryder
Marathon Tours & Travel

What an emotional roller coaster....
Whaaa I had just got my head around 2014 and how relieved I actually was that I had time on my side and...well I as speechless, motionless, schocked! But with a spirit of determination and persistence I have accepted the challenge!

So let the games begin friends...a dream that has been on my heart for 16 months is starting to take shape and become a reality and in 2013 I hope to realise my dream of running a marathon on each continent starting on 7th March 2013 with the hardest of all 42.2km on snow! And of course all this hinges on me raising R200 000 before 31st Jan 2013! But i am positive that I will achieve it! Lets hope the exchange rate swings in my favour ;)

I will be blogging, FBing & tweeting (Gosh if my Gran was still alive and reading this she would think I was speaking another language!!) on this adventure, the details are:

• My blogs will be here http://liveloverun77.blogspot.com/ 
• Facebook page is https://www.facebook.com/LiveLoveRun77 
• Tweeting from @larakruiskamp

I hope you'll join me on this journey and be inspired, encouraged and motivated to follow your heart, live your passions and your unique purpose and LOVE LIVING LIFE!

Have a fabulous week
Lara