If you can dream it, you can do it
Choosing a title for this book wasn’t difficult. “If you can dream it, you can do it” are the famous words of Walt Disney, a man who was able to dream as well as get things moving. It wasn’t always like that. In his youth, far from all his dreams were realised, but when he found the right resources he turned failure into success and, subsequently, many of his most fantastic dreams succeeded, as sprinkled with pure magic.
During the period from 2000 to 2007, I did a number of courses in personal development. The basis of these was NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming), which is an American psychology theory developed in the 1970s. In NLP, we’re made consciously aware of how thoughts, patterns and convictions control our actions and thus, our lives. We are able to work on the things within us that are inhibitory and not constructive for our lives, and we can learn from others, and modulate them, so we can reach our goals. But it’s not quite that simple – or is it? We all have the resources we need to attain our goals and to realise our dreams. If our aims and desires are important enough, and we use the necessary time and resources, we can reach our goals. We may, however, need to adjust our objectives a little along the way.
We don’t need to attend courses or educate ourselves in order to achieve our goals. We all have it in us. Some people have a natural ability to turn dreams into reality. Others can be coached towards their goal or undergo therapy to help combat their own limiting convictions, lack of self-confidence and other inhibitions.
I began running marathons before I knew anything about NLP. It was not until later that I realised how the mind can “move mountains”. After I became aware of this, I have done my bit in various ways to spread the word. In 2008, I wrote an article for “Christmas in Roskilde” the title of which was “If you can dream it, you can do it”. In the article, I wrote of my marathon runs in different parts of the world and about how they became a reality. I have since lectured on the same subject, this time under the title “What you don’t have in your legs you must have in your head”. And that’s the way it really is. I shall not belittle good, hard training. But you will get nowhere if your mind is not with you. On the other hand, you can get a long way with the right convictions even though you are not in top physical shape.
Some 15 years ago, I was convinced that I couldn’t run. Today I know that I am “Mr Great Wall”. There is a world of difference between these two states of mind, believe me.
In this book, you will be able to read the whole story from my first marathon which – perhaps – was quite by chance and up to November 2013, when I ran my first marathon with a pacemaker. I am not finished with running, not at all, and it is my aim to run across the Wall in China at least 25 times in all. There is still some way to go.
I have chosen to write the entire story in chronological order and to tell my readers about every single run and about the challenges, injuries and adventures, I have experienced and the many people I have met along the way. The many human destinies have made a particular impression on me, and my conviction that “if you can dream it, you can do it” has only been confirmed by the many people I have encountered who, despite cancer, blindness, deafness, leg amputations and countless other handicaps, possessed such tremendous willpower, conquered their own limitations, and exceeded the expectations of those around them at all levels.
I didn’t know it at the time, but my life was changed the day I decided to sign up for The Great Wall Marathon for the first time.
It would have been impossible for me to write had it not been for certain basic material. My good memory has been my primary resource and the travel accounts I have written over the years, photographs and video material have also been very helpful. It has also been very useful to borrow material from other sources. On this count, I have made frequent use of newspapers and the Internet. Travel information from Albatros Travel and Peter Fredberg’s many articles in the tabloid newspaper BT have been invaluable.
A lot of people have contributed with proofreading, translation, pictures and picture editing, layout, printing, marketing and creative ideas. Not least, my family has borne over with seeing my back at the computer while this book has developed from idea to reality. My deep thanks go to everyone who has contributed to this result.
Roskilde, March 2014
Henrik Brandt
Mr Great Wall
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