Written by Longstanding readers of my blog will remember back in October 2021 I wrote about my experiences running The London Marathon. I was very fortunate to get a space through running for a charity (“The Rainy Day Trust” Home – Rainy Day Trust ) and, despite my best efforts in subsequent ballots, I have not been able to secure a place since. The latest rejection coming only this week:
However, last month – for the first time since London – I did enter and complete a marathon. This time it was in Edinburgh, my university city, and a place I don’t re-visit anywhere near enough. Despite the torrential rain and driving winds as we ran along the Firth of Forth not having been factored into “warm weather training” for an event in late May, it was a great experience. Soaked and exhausted at the finish line I, together with all finishers, was presented with a small box containing a few goodies and my medal. The side of the box read as follows:
It was a quotation that I hadn’t seen before, and from an individual I hadn’t heard of. As I rode on the bus back from the race’s end at Musselburgh to the city centre nursing my blisters and trying to force down some food, it wasn’t the time to over-think its meaning. Fred DeVito is a fitness trainer, and this quotation is his mantra he imparts upon those with whom he works. Whilst not a novel concept (it is, in essence, Stoic in origin) it is a sentiment I wholeheartedly subscribe to. In our schools and beyond, our children learn and grow through facing and overcoming challenge. After all, one of our core values as a Trust is tenacity and resilience.
On Friday 27th June, I was privileged to have the opportunity to speak at our second Pupil Leadership Conference, hosted at Fradley Park Primary and Nursery School for children of all ages across our schools. I took the opportunity to challenge them to challenge themselves – before they can really look to lead and challenge others with integrity. I have every confidence that they will. They are amazing and, as their bespoke logo signals, they are stronger together.
The programme for the day required them to work together in workshops to build confidence and help them develop as public speakers, share their experiences of fundraising for charity and a team building activity. Through such challenge, they will change – and for the better.
Thanks for reading.
Mike.
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