Running, Winston Churchill and a Blaze Giveaway
Posted by Marie Donovan in Blaze Authors, Contests, Marie Donovan
Due to the fact I have offspring that are much more athletically talented than I am (a low bar, to be sure), I have been to several junior high cross-country running meets this fall. Watching cross-country is not what you’d call a fantastic spectator sport because the kids all take off running at the starting line, run across the field, and usually disappear into the woods. If you are fast enough, you can sprint diagonally across the field behind them to catch them at a corner, but after that they are out of sight.
Then you chew the fat with the other parents, watch your wristwatch and eventually the first few speed demons erupt from the woods and tear down the chute to the finish line while everyone cheers mightily for their excellence as the kids wipe off dead bugs and mud from their skin. After one race, mine looked like the grill of our car after a long road trip.
The other kids dribble in and get cheered, but there are always a few toward the end who struggle. One race had them running two laps past the spectators, and the winners passed the last girl, going twice as fast.
I am not the sentimental type when it comes to sports. My heart doesn’t beat faster when I hear “Bear Down, Chicago Bears” and I have never painted my face Illini blue-and-orange. And normally I hate the “you’re all winners just for showing up” attitude because I was an extraordinarily competitive girl when I played sports as a kid and thought it stunk if you didn’t win. (actually I still do).
But that one girl last Saturday made me choke up and glad I had sunglasses to hide my watery eyes. She absolutely had to know she was dead last, and after her first lap, I expected her to drop out and I wouldn’t see her again.
But here she came, putting one foot in front of the other. It had taken so long that the spectators had drifted onto the course (one goofball even had his bike in her way) and the coaches had to roust everyone off. And that girl got a huge cheer as she staggered up the hill to the finish.
I thought of Winston Churchill’s quote, “Never give in. Never give in. Never, never, never, never–in nothing, great or small, large or petty–never give in.” And I promised myself that even if I found myself plodding along dead last in whatever I had to do, that I would be as brave as that girl and just keep putting one foot in front of the other.
Maybe we all can be winners just for keeping going. My September Blaze Her Last Line of Defense deals heavily with bravery and endurance under difficult conditions. Post what you think and you’ll be entered to win a copy of my Green Beret-themed romance.
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Wow. That girl sure had willpower and motivation. Good for her, and thanks for blogging about it!
You reminded me of what I’ve heard from many standup comedians, singers, and, yes, authors. Comedians have gotten booed for years yet become famous “in time”. Singers struggle at nightclubs, grand openings, etc. to get their voices heard for that big recording deal. Authors, of course, get many turn-down letters from publishers before getting their big contract. Yet, ONE DAY, some of them “make it”!
Thanks for “making it” so we can enjoy your books for years to come. Have a great day.
Marie,
It’s so funny that you posted this blog today of all days. I just re-read HER LAST LINE OF DEFENSE again yesterday. And I couldn’t help but marvel at Claire’s tenacity to her ideals and her desires once again. She knew what she wanted, she didn’t back down and she stuck it out even when the odds were stacked against her. I seriously don’t think I would have been able to deal with someone training me in a subject matter such as survival, if I walked into it knowing they automatically assumed I would fail. And after getting to know her Luc even had the guts to admit
(okay… don’t know what just happened there)
As I was saying : Luc even had the guts to admit TO HER FACE ‘What should I teach you next? I didn’t think you’d make it this far.’ Talk about a slap to the face. But that didn’t bother Claire. She took it in stride and she pushed on through on many different levels in so many ways. She garnered the respect of everyone involved, she proved her own mental toughness and she completed her chosen path to teach children in an undeveloped country, all while earning the love of the one man who shared her father’s beliefs and had the power to destroy her from the start.
I can’t say enough good things about this story. I loved every page of it. And I too want to know what happened between Janie and Ollie. Please say that story is coming next. Please leave me out of your drawing. I just wanted to share the love today. LOL.
-Pamela
I remember when my youngest daughter was running AAU track. We were at a meet at a local university. My daughter was in first place when one of her teammates a ways behind her had an asthma attack. My daughter turned and ran back to her to see if she could help. By that time help had got to her so they told my girl to go ahead and finish. She finished fourth and I couldn’t have been more proud. She cared more about her friend than any trophy. All these years later and she is still that way. It certainly makes a mother proud.
Wow what strength and determination that girl had…. I am very impressed! She deserved those cheers. I remember being on my school’s volleyball team… and one day I was playing so badly (was my B-day). When I was rotated out I started crying… some of my fellow teammates came over and gave me a wonderful peptalk…”It is your birthday… enjoy it, just play for fun… who cares if you are having a bad day, everyone has them…” They cheered me up and then I started playing better. Was not my best day, but my teammates lifted my spirits and helped me continue on! (F)
Hi Laney,
Yes, many of us “Artistic” types go through several rejections, but as they say, it only takes one “yes” and we forget about the “no”s. Thanks for your kind words as well!
Marie
Wow, Pamela!
Thank you so much for the great compliment–you really understand what I was driving at. After all, who is the strong one–Luc or Claire? This story is a testimonial to all the “ordinary” people who tap deep into their spirit and do extraordinary things.
Funny you should mention Janey and Ollie–they were next in line for a story, but my editor says they want to take a break from military stories since they are just finishing up a whole year of them. I purposely set up the mysterious date with a bad ending, knowing what I wanted to have happen in the next book, but so far that is not in the cards. Maybe I can do them at a later date with your and several other readers’ requests backing me up.
Marie
Where are Janey and Olie! I need to know what happened to them!
Linda,
Your daughter sounds wonderful and you are right to be proud of her. The nice thing about cross country is that the parents and coaches are great with all the kids, not just their own. After coming from some dubious seasons in baseball/softball and basketball where the coaches are trying to “build a dynasty” with second graders (!), that attitude is heartwarming.
Marie
Colleen,
I think that is why sports can be so helpful to kids, girls in particular. It helps everyone learn the lesson that yeah, you lose sometimes and then you have to go shake the other team’s hands when all you want to do is cry or slap them. I was more of the latter type since I am horribly competitive. I can barely play board games without getting overly aggressive. :-O So in that sense, sports helped me lighten up.
Marie
Great post. What determination that girl had. Good for her for finishing. It is so admirable when people don’t quit and strive to keep reaching for their goals.
What an inspiring post. Sometimes I wish I had that kind of determination and try to finish everything I’ve started.
Your story about the girl coming in last but not giving up kind of reminded me of the “Special Olympics” that so many schools hold every year and the total enthusiasm everyone has for those kids and that the kids have for themselves and each other.
I agree with you about not liking the “you’re all winners” mentality because we all need a little competition, as long as it’s fair. Also, hubby and I have discussed that youth sports are so not like when we were growing up. I have a son in baseball who though not a great player keeps chugging along because he loves it. I don’t pat him on the back unless he deserves it and that’s the way he likes it. He is appreciative of it that way and tries harder next time. He is ten years old and was in a 9-10 age group most recently. Most all of the boys would cry if they got hurt and all the coaches, mothers, etc. would go and baby him. Quite frankly, that makes my stomach turn. That didn’t happen in my day. You picked yourself and got back in the game unless it was serious, like a broken bone and even then, it’s possible to keep going, depending on which bone. Do these parents realize what sissies they are making their sons and how ill-prepared they are for the adult world?
Okay, off my soapbox now. lol
However, any extraordinary effort, whether a winning effort or not, deserves recognition. There’s nothing wrong with that.
Deidre
a great story
i see manay o fthat stories on espn sometimes
Inspiring story indeed!
any winner?
I was curious who the winner was!?! (F)
Hi Ladies!
A million apologies for my sloppy blogging! I won’t bore you with the gory details since I am sure everybody has similar situations at home at times.
The winners are:
Laney4
Linda Henderson
Colleen
Please email your mailing info to me at marie at mariedonovan dot com and I will send out your books!
All the best,
Marie
Hi Ladies!
A million apologies for my sloppy blogging! I won’t bore you with the gory details since I am sure everybody has similar situations at home at times.
The winners are:
Laney4
Linda Henderson
Colleen
Please email your mailing info to me at marie at mariedonovan dot com and I will send out your books!
All the best,
Marie Donovan
Thank you Marie, I hope things are well with you.
Hi! Thanks a lot, Marie, and heartfelt congrats to Colleen & Linda too. Whoo hoo! They say, “Good things come to those who wait!” Guess that’s true today!
Good luck, Marie, and yes, I’m sure we can all relate to our days getting away from us! I hope yours improve soon!