Team 99 Counties: Be yourself

Editor's note: Daren Schumaker of Cedar Rapids and Dennis Lee of Walford are attempting to run across Iowa's 99 counties to raise money and awareness for the American Heart Association. They've completed 87 counties. This is No. 83. Next: Kossuth

By Daren Schumaker, community contributor

Great accomplishments come in all shapes and sizes and from all types of people and places. But one type of greatness is the greatest of them all.

In the words of American poet, philosopher and essayist Ralph Waldo Emerson, 'To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.”

Emerson uttered these words to reflect the world as he saw it during his lifetime, not knowing his words would also reflect the world more than 125 years after his death - a world where technology and social media constantly pressure each of us to be something else, something we are not. Despite the fact we are a society of individuals, we often sacrifice our individuality to better fit into society. We succumb to peer pressure, we go with the flow and we follow the crowd. If we take the time to stop and look around, we soon realize we have become something we are not and are located somewhere far from greatness.

On Oct. 24, we awoke before the sun and left the farm of Kevin and Lisa Rasmussen in rural Goldfield, where we had spent the night and enjoyed good food, good conversation and good company. As the sun started to rise we found ourselves on the western edge of Humboldt County in north central Iowa, standing on the Three Rivers Trail just west of Bradgate with a sharp cool breeze at our backs. Before we had even settled into a rhythm we had crossed the western fork of the Des Moines River and passed through Bradgate on our way to Rutland, following the southeastern route offered by the crushed limestone under our feet. We completed our eighth mile before entering Rutland, where we stepped off the Three Rivers Trail to meet many other runners who had gathered to participate in the Three Rivers Trail Run Half Marathon and 10K.

The excitement of the runners around us soon caused our pace to quicken and, as we chatted with those around us, we got lost in the moment and before long we had both passed through Humboldt and Dakota City and crossed the eastern fork of the Des Moines River, running the better part of eight miles as a part of a crowd of highly motivated and determined runners. We wished the racers well at their turnaround and we completed our 17th mile as we continued eastward with just our thoughts and each other. The trail remained scenic with fall foliage and harvested cornfields, and our route remained remarkably flat as the wind pushed us onward. We passed through Thor during our 23rd mile, and soon found ourselves on the eastern edge of Humboldt County - a mere 3:57:59 after we had started and 27.7 miles from where we had taken our first steps.

We soaked in the experience of the day and our 83rd county as we walked a few extra steps on the Three Rivers Trail, discussing how difficult it was to leave the comfort of the crowd and how we wished we had been able to cross the Boone River, the third river of the Three Rivers Trail.

For better or worse, as much as we try to fit in, each of us is different. Just like snowflakes, no two of us are alike. We are each individuals and this is something we must remember. Being different, or awkward or imperfect simply means you are an individual who is both natural and real. In a world full of people who pretend to be who they are not, be the person you are. When people laugh at you because you're different, take the time to laugh at them because they're all the same.

There comes a time in each of our lives when we have to stand up, step away from the crowd and shout, 'This is me!” Be yourself. Don't waste your time doing what others think will bring you happiness. Instead, do what you know will make you happy, truly happy. If you walk in the footprints of others, you won't make any of your own. If you follow the crowd, you will go no further than the crowd. But if you walk alone and continue on your own path and find your own way, you will likely find yourself in places no one has ever been before. We constantly find ourselves in such places and we are happy upon our arrival. Be yourself. Be happy. Achieve the greatest accomplishment.

Inspiration through perspiration. Become active or make a donation to Team 99 Counties or the American Heart Association to help fight heart disease today.

l To make a donation or buy a T-shirt, email Dennis Lee at telcoden@yahoo.com