Team 99 Counties: Write yourself a happy, fulfilling story

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 88 counties. This is No. 88. Next: ????

We all want to tell a story.

In fact, most tell a story about themselves inside their own head. Always. All the time. An inner monologue that provides deep insight — or comic relief — into the most mundane of our daily activities.

It is this story that makes each of us who we are, and we build ourselves out of that story. More than just wanting to tell a story, we all want to tell a good story and a good story is one that inspires.

Unfortunately, such stories of inspiration — especially when based on our own lives — are not so easy to create and tell. Most of our stories are not going to end up on the big screen. The fact of the matter is they just aren't Hollywood-worthy. However, that doesn't mean each of us can't still tell a story that inspires. We just need to remember storytelling is about two things, two things that the story in each of our heads already has — characters and plot.

On Feb. 20, 2016, we left Walford at 7 a.m. and headed southwest, traveling more south than west as we passed through too many small towns to list on our way to the western border of Appanoose County. Before we arrived at our destination, we took a few minutes to stop in the eastern Wayne County town of Promise City to visit an old friend, a donkey we had first met in December 2013. We cut our reunion short and, at 10:30 a.m., we started our watches and took our first eastward steps along Highway 2 — doing so while wearing shorts rather than pants as the temperature already had climbed near 50 degrees.

During the course of the first several miles of our trek we discussed the stories we had each been telling ourselves in our own minds and relived several of our most and least favorite memories from many of the counties we already have crossed off our list. Before long, we had climbed a fair number of hills, and climbed the two steepest hills we had seen as we completed our 11th mile and entered Centerville. We continued to run uphill into Centerville, where we visited the town square, running past many small businesses before returning to Highway 2.

Admittedly, the next five miles of our journey were sketchy, at best, as we encountered heavy traffic and ran on a shoulder that was about six inches from the white line on Highway 2 to a steep drop into a deep and wooded ditch. We remained focused, crossed the Chariton River and pushed onward to complete our 18th mile. As the temperature climbed above 60, we took off our shirts and implemented a 'suns out, guns out' policy for the remainder of our run. The day came to a close as we passed through beautiful farmland and literally climbed hill, after hill, after hill before climbing one last hill to complete our 26.2-mile crossing of Appanoose County — our 88th — in 3:49:07.

Stories start, and stories end. Stories are born. Stories die. We were reminded of this as we encountered a funeral procession that was heading west out of Centerville. We stopped, removed our hats and paid our respects to an unknown storyteller who had spoken their last words. Was their story one of inspiration? We will likely never know. However, the harsh reality a story had come to an end was enough to inspire each of us.

Stories have to be told or they die and, when they die, we can't remember who we are or why we're here. We each tell our story one word at a time, one day at a time and the plot twists each time we act or fail to act. If we want to tell a good story, and want to inspire others, we must simply play to our strengths and to what we control. Believe it or not, each of us has redeemable, and even valued and sought-after, qualities that make us a character to which others can relate. Each of us, in one way or another, is a compelling character. In addition, we each control the plot of the story we tell in our own heads.

If you want to tell a story that inspires, take control of your life and inspire others. It doesn't take much. We know this from experience. Sometimes all it takes is a few kind words or a nudge in the right direction, small things can make all the difference in the world. In turn, let others steer you with the inspiration you find in their stories. Remember your story is written one day at a time, and because it is your story, you can change your character and the plot as you see fit.

Tell your own story. Make it inspiring. Make yourself the best character possible, and take that character on the path of your choosing.

Inspiration through perspiration. Sweat is how we tell our story. How will you tell yours? Become active or make a donation to the American Heart Association to help fight heart disease today.