Team 99 Counties: Push in the right direction

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 85 counties. This is No. 80. Next: Bremer.

Sometimes all you need is a push in the right direction.

In this context, pushing is a good thing. At the end of a marathon, it's going to hurt whether you speed up or slow down, so you might as well push to the finish. In this context, pushing also is a good thing.

However, pushing doesn't always have a positive connotation. Have you ever been pushed aside, pushed around, pushed off or pushed down? In these contexts, pushing is not a good thing.

Each of us has goals, some of which are quite lofty and always seem to be just beyond our reach. If we want to achieve these goals we will have to push toward them. Sometimes we are pushed by others and sometimes we push ourselves. However, we must ensure that any push we receive, or any push we give, is a good thing.

On Aug. 23, we departed Cedar Rapids at 6:15 a.m. and headed to the most central and northern part of Iowa — Winnebago County. The morning was cool and remained so as we put our backs to a 22 mile per hour wind and started our eastward journey at about 10 a.m. Our route was located in the southern portion of Winnebago County (far enough south that we didn't have to deal with the foul Minnesota air) and followed 360th Street, a paved road with wide shoulders and little traffic. Each of us was tired, including Darl Van Rheenen, who was along for yet another adventure. But with a 22 mile per hour wind at our backs our legs felt as light as feathers.

The first 11 miles of our run were uneventful and uphill, but with the wind pushing us in the right direction we hardly noticed. The wind moved the crops in the fields that surrounded us to such an extent that we felt as if we were afloat and lost in a sea of shimmering corn. After running past several windmills we logged our 14th mile as we ran past Three Fingers Campground. We followed a few southward curves in the road and, as we worked toward our 17th mile, we found ourselves in Forest City. We looped Forest City High School, running a lap around the track and sprinting across the football field from one end zone to the other. Next, we made our obligatory visit to the Winnebago County Courthouse and danced through the campus of Waldorf College before heading east out of town on Highway 9.

We completed our 20th mile on the eastern edge of Forest City and jumped onto a paved trail that followed Highway 9. We spent three miles on this trail before it ended, climbing a few hills and brushing more than a few grasshoppers off our legs and arms. We pushed through the last three miles, and even pushed ourselves to a near sprint for the last quarter-mile. With the wind at our back, pushing us in the right direction, we crossed our 80th county in 3:40:47 via a 26.67-mile route.

Sometimes all you need is a push in the right direction. To us, the wind provided such a push. Unfortunately, the wind is not always going to be at our backs, and more often than not, it will try to push us off course rather than in the right direction. Each of us will face challenges as we push toward our goals, and we may have to push even harder when the wind starts to blow us off course. Focus will be needed in the push toward glory, but don't push too hard. Focus often blinds. Push too hard toward your goals in one aspect of your life, and you may be pushing others who you care about out of your life. Don't push away the people who truly care about you as you work toward your goals, because one day they won't come back. You may have met your goal, but the sacrifice may end up being too great.

At first, those who care about you will support you in achieving your dreams as they love you. However, if you keep pushing, and push hard enough, they will eventually go. They are not blinded by your focus and are able to see what you are making time for, and it isn't time for them. If someone cuts you off, chances are, you gave them the scissors and a reason to do so. Make time to work toward your goals, but also make time for those you care for and for those who care for you. A victory is best celebrated with those you love, not alone. Push hard to your dreams, but don't push others aside, around, off, or down in the process.

Make sure you invest your time in both yourself and those who are special to you.

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