Running For Endurance And My Life

It’s hard to express the sadness I felt this weekend when I found out Micah True aka Caballo Blanco was found dead in the Gila Wilderness in New Mexico.  It is a bit odd, at least to feel this way about someone I never met.  But, at the same time I think I feel this way because of the impact this one man has had on my life.

You see back in the Spring of 2010 my sister Rebekah and Daniel had read Born To Run, a book about Caballo Blanco and the Tara Humara Indians.  They were inspired by the book and had also decided to on a couple months of training to go out and run the Chicago Marathon that October.  The inspiration from Born To Run inspired them to try running bare foot as well.

I had heard of the book, Born To Run, at this point, but did not read it.  I was so inspired by my sister and Daniel going out and running this marathon on such short notice and the fact that they seemed so inspired by running, that I myself decided to start running everyday the first week of October 2010 (and everyday since until now).

It’s hard for me to imagine, but I was thinking today, what if there never was a Caballo Blanco and Micah True never chose to go live with the Tara Humara Indians.  There may have never been a book for Chris McDougal to write or it would have been highly different.  This would have in affect changed the course of history as my sister and Daniel may have never been inspired to keep running and thus I would never have been inspired and found the thing I love so much today.

I am actually reading the Book Born To Run right now as I write this post.  I’m about halfway done with it.  But it is amazing to think how a book and one man’s life can have such a profound impact on the lives of others.  I am sure I am not alone either and that Micah True has had a profound positive affect on many people’s lives.

I said to my mom tonight that fame and fortune mean nothing in the end.  Most everyone just wants to be remembered, but most won’t be.  The most the overwhelming majority of us can hope for is to have a positive impact on people’s lives…You know basically do your part at leaving the world a better place then the one you were born into.  Micah True is a man that epitomizes one who has truly done his part of leaving this planet better off.