On May 6, 2007 at the Flying Pig Marathon in Cincinnati, Ohio one of those Mind over Matter stories unfolded.
Just one week prior to the Flying Pig Marathon four relatives were on a short fishing trip and two of the cousins were bantering with each other. Ryan Geers, a soon to be University of Cincinnati Emergency Medicine Resident, and Todd Geers his cousin, President of F James Geers & Company in Cincinnati were having a heated discussion about who was more physically fit.
Ryan told Todd that he, Ryan, would have no problem running a Marathon
without prior training. Todd found that to be an interesting statement and a little too braggadocious so he challenged Ryan to his words. Not to be outdone, Ryan assured Todd he could run the Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon the following Sunday to prove his point. The challenge was on.
Instead of backing down Ryan did what most foolish young men would do and
said OK I’ll prove it. He knew he could run 2 – 3 mile stints because he did that periodically and two years before he had run a 5K in Chicago so what was the big deal with 26.2 miles.
For the next several days Ryan called anyone he knew that knew anything
about Marathons and listened to their advice. All accept for “You are crazy to try that.”
On Sunday morning May 6, 2007 at 6:30 AM with the crack of the Starting Gun the Marathon commenced. For the next four hours and forty-two minutes (4:42) Ryan travelled through the neighborhoods of Cincinnati with all the demons of “you can’t do this” on his shoulder. By mile 15 his leg muscles started to burn and the reality of what he was trying to do was sinking in. For the next 5 miles the demons got louder assuring him this was a foolish act and he should call it quits. Ryan would have nothing to do with them.
By mile 21 the demons could barely be heard and were replaced by the Mind
over Matter Crowd. He knew he could do it. This was no longer a
braggadocious statement but a reality of a belief in himself that has been with him all his life.
At mile 25 there was a freshness of spirit and a final kick to the finish line. There were no words of encouragement needed from me or anyone else
at that point. He had already finished the Marathon in his mind. This part was just for show.
As a father I watched all of this unfold from the fishing trip to the finish line and I am amazed at the strength of his inner spirit. Chalk this one up to Mind over Matter. Ryan Geers has a Flying Pig Marathon Metal to prove it.
Kenneth R. Geers, the proud Papa of the New Marathon Man works at www.sportomotoring.com an automotive accessories eretailer featuring auto seat covers, custom car mats, auto gift ideas, and more.
AJ Mitchell – MIND [Official Video]
Get “MIND” by AJ Mitchell Here:
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/mind-single/id1299980465
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/4bumWxPIGcTVoNl59kzJXH
Apple Music: https://itunes.apple.com/album/id1299980465
Follow AJ Here:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imajmitchell
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/imajmitchell
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/imajmitcheli
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6dn6x…
“MIND” Lyrics:
We go like oil and water babe
We can’t start fires in pouring rain
No i can’t understand why i need you
Like i come back to life when i breathe you
I admit it
That I can’t be without you I’m twisted
I don’t know how I got so dependent
And I don’t even mind
I admit it
Every time that we touch I get lifted
When you’re near I get high in an instant
And I don’t even mind
We spark like wires across the dark
Tangled up/like fibers electric heart
No i can’t understand why i need you
Like i come back to life when i breathe you
CHORUS
I admit it
That I can’t be without you I’m twisted
I don’t know how I got so dependent
And I don’t even mind
I admit it
Every time that we touch I get lifted
When you’re near i get high in an instant
And I don’t even mind
I don’t even mind
you can take my time, I don’t even mind
I don’t even mind
you can take my time, I don’t even mind
AJ – Used to Be
http://smarturl.it/AJUsedToBe
AJ -Somebody
http://smarturl.it/ajsomebody
Produced by: Jess Jackson, Marvin Hollie
Written by: AJ Mitchell, David Quinones, JVZEL, Marvin Hollie, REO
Mixed by: Jess Jackson / Eric Racey
Production: Gin+Tonic Lab
Director: Nick Leopold (@skinnyempire)
Editor: Nick Leopold (@skinnyempire)