Iñaki: The Fast-paced Walker (Part II)

          
        It has become somewhat of a tradition for me to sit back on the last hour before the calendar announces it’s October 2nd, and look back at what the past year has been like. The quarter of a century I’ve had the pleasure of living has been a fascinating journey thus far, and I’m thrilled to continue walking along my second one in just a few minutes. 

In any event, I think what I’ve written in the past number of posts about all the life changing events that have taken place over the past year sum everything up quite nicely. So rather than recounting all of that, I’d like to take this opportunity to write about an individual who couldn’t have chosen a better moment to materialize a dream into a reality just a few days ago. 

What an amazing feeling it is to know that someone you grew up and walked along with since the day he was born has finally reached the culmination of a life-long ambition - qualifying for the Summer Olympic Games. 

What enormous satisfaction must be to look back on all you have done and learned throughout this long journey and come to realize that every step you took, every up and down, every injury, pair of sneakers, liter of sweat, sacrifice, and trip has payed off.  Everything from learning how to crawl, to learning how to walk, to learning how to walk faster than most people can run, to learning how to take flight and boldly go to peaks only walked on by the special few. 

In the end, it’s all about connecting the dots. Connecting them and knowing that hard work and sacrifice does pay off, anyone who says otherwise has one thing lacking - the belief that it can be done. The fact is there are always going to be two kinds of people in this world, those who say something is unreachable, and those who simply don’t listen and go after their dreams against all odds. That is the kind of person that it takes to make it. 

Taking a moment to reflect on the stage of life I currently find myself in, I can’t help but connecting the dots that led me here. The thought of knowing that my own brother is at a similar stage in life and can see exactly how it is that he got to where he now stands brings me a great deal of pride and satisfaction.

Now let me frank, it’s not because he is my brother. Iñaki truly is the definition of a true athlete. A man who leads by example, a man who gets back up each time he falls, and one who is not afraid to make his own trail.  His is a journey that has literally taken him on a wild roller-coaster ride of ups and downs and after all he’s been through, it’s only fitting to be finally heading to London 2012. 

As I’ve always said, 

"There will always be those who dare to dream, but also there will always be those who don’t let their dreams just be dreams”. 

I can’t think of a better birthday gift than knowing you’ve finally made it, and that I’ll be able to witness it accompanied by our parents, friends, the love of my life and our soon-to-be-born-son. 

I wouldn’t have it any other way. 

Walk on bro,


                           - Your biggest fan


See "Iñaki: The Fast-paced Walker (Part I)".


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