CLARK KENT OR SUPERMAN?

Gender aside, I think that this is a very simple analogy we can all relate to.. As most of us know, Clark Kent is the alter ego of Superman. (Or is the other way around? We will let the comic fans debate that.) As Clark Kent, Superman tried to make himself to be an ordinary individual to blend in with the crowd, even though he was far from it. In order to distance himself from Superman, he adopted a largely passive and introverted personality, changed his voice and even walked with a slight slouch. BUT he always was Superman underneath, wearing his costume under his clothes. At a moment’s notice he could dash away saving the world. In other worlds, it wasn’t that hard to become Superman.

While we may not have super human powers, we all have the ability to be like Superman. In the list of participants I know many of you spend lots of hours volunteering your time to help others (Superman wasn’t paid). Others wouldn’t hesitate to stop whatever they were doing to help someone stranded on the side of the road (Superman was always available). At least a few of you have participated with My Team Triumph helping others fly down the road (Superman could fly). Many of you have children, which we know require our constant love, time and attention and more often than not, we would make huge sacrifices for without thinking twice (Superman was selfless). The point is that in reality it doesn’t take a lot to be a superhero.

What does any of this have to do with running or walking the Bellin Run? While there are a lot of us that have done many Bellin Runs and other races, perhaps this is your first one. Or maybe it is just the first one that you have done that others are noticing. Whether you are a novice or seasoned athlete, to many people you are like Superman. You have taken action, taken back your life and committed to bettering your health. Believe me, this is no easy task. Everyone has the same amount of time in the day. It’s up to you to use that time for good, for others and yourself. While we all need time to unwind (Even Superman has been quoted to say "I am Clark. I need to be Clark. I'd go crazy if I had to be Superman all the time!"), we can find ways to do that that are not detrimental to our health or life, and rather enhance it. At the end of the day, participating in the Bellin Run is an excellent way to let go of the passive side of us and move over to the active side. What may seem ordinary to us, may seem extraordinary to someone else. So don’t discount your journey, and don’t forget to pick up someone along the way.