Friday, March 21, 2014

Slow And Steady Wins The Race...!

I know that we have all heard the story of the tortoise and the hare and their famous race!

This is a story about an older gentleman that ran a race like the fabled one, but did so in real life! I think you'll find it interesting, to say the least! Thanks to the folks over at KnowledgeNuts for sharing this article!


The Amazing Real-Life Version Of The Tortoise And The Hare
By Himanshu Sharma on Thursday, March 20, 2014

The story of the tortoise and the hare is a well-known children’s tale that aims to teach the importance of steadiness over speed. While it makes sense in theory and might even have been true in ancient times, it doesn’t necessarily hold true in today’s world. One notable exception is the case of Cliff Young, who went on to win a race the exact same way as the tortoise in the tale, with his competitors even sleeping midway to let him take over.

The story of the steady tortoise winning against the fast hare shows up in many cultures in the same form. The hare challenges the tortoise to a race, overestimates his own abilities and decides to sleep midway, and is eventually defeated by the tortoise who slowly but determinedly keeps at it till the end. It’s aimed at telling the young ones the importance of steadiness over speed, though growing up makes one realize that speed actually does make a difference in the competitive world. Except there is at least one person who has proven the tale right, and in almost the same conditions as the classic tortoise and hare.

From 1983–1991, an Australian race called the Sydney to Melbourne Ultramarathon, a journey undertaken by professional athletes because it covered a distance of more than 800 kilometers (500 mi). Cliff was a 61-year-old potato farmer who had no prior experience as an athlete and was laughed at when he first showed up at the venue to take part in the race of 1983. He didn’t have any professional gear to complete the thing, let alone win it, and was quickly left behind by faster athletes on the first day of the race itself. What he wasn’t aware of was that the race included scheduled stops for sleep, and while the rest of the athletes took their breaks according to schedule, Cliff nudged on into the night.

You probably know exactly where this is going.

Cliff eventually took over the athletes and maintained his lead for the rest of the marathon, going on to winning it. He entered the race as a nobody and finished it a national hero. He had told the press before the race that he was used to the kind of extended running the ultramarathon demanded, as he had to stay out for days fetching sheep at his farm. He just thought of the race as just another day chasing sheep while at the same time trying to outrun a storm, which enabled him to carry on without any considerable rest throughout the race.

Australia was so impressed by the feat that a race was named for him, the Cliff Young Australian Six-Day Race, among plenty of other things. He remains an inspiration for athletes to this day, and even set the world age record for completing a six-day race held in Victoria in 2000. While the tortoise and hare story just makes sense as a children’s fairy tale to most of us, Cliff Young was the guy who proved, once and for all, that slow and steady might actually win in some grown-up cases as well.

Sort of inspires you just a little, doesn't it? Here is a man that believes he can not only compete in a race that he isn't even qualified for in the eyes of the officials, but that he can win it! Instead of listening to all the nay-sayers, he listens to his own heart. He did what he felt was right and acted accordingly. Sometimes it pays to keep your own counsel, doesn't it?

Coffee out on the patio this morning! Warm temps and sunshine await!

8 comments:

Ken said...

...slow is smooth and smooth is fast...

...can't tell ya how many times we've used it practicing, it applies to everything...

Mamahen said...

A happy story to end the week with! Always nice to see the underdog win...patio sounds nice rain/snow showers here this a.m. Care for a Fig Newton? They aren't my fave, but for some reason I had a hankering for one this morning :))

Chickenmom said...

If I walked any slower, I'd be going backwards! Coffee on the patio with fig newtons sounds wonderful

linda m said...

That is the way we all should think. We can do anything we set our minds to and being the fastest isn't necessarily the best way to do things - slow and methodical can many times be the best way. Great lesson this morning. Coffee on the patio sounds good. Have a great weekend.

JO said...

Great story. It's a yes I can. These farmers are in better shape than any athlete I'd say. They work hard everyday.

I'm loving this weather for coffee out on the patio

MamaHen said...

That's a great story! thanks for sharing.

Sixbears said...

I wonder how many other undiscovered talented people out there who just don't fit the mold.

HermitJim said...

Hey Ken...
Certainly a message that can be applied to everyday activities!

Thanks, buddy, for dropping by today!



Hey Mamahen...
I like fig newtons! Guess it could be called the underdog of the cookie world!

Thanks for coming over today!



Hey Phyllis...
I reckon I know exactly what you mean!

Thanks for the visit!



Hey Linda M...
I'm glad you liked the lesson! Sometimes slower is better!

Thanks for stopping by today!



Hey Jo...
Goes to show we should never underestimate our opponent!

Thanks, sweetie, for coming by this morning!



Hey Anne...
Certainly my pleasure. Always glad to share when I can!

Thanks, my friend, for coming by today!



Hey Sixbears...
Probably more than we will ever know.

Thanks for coming by today!