34 Miles for Peace - Gaia House
jozef marlow is raising money for Gaia House
Story
Since 2010, I have been running as a form of coping with life.
It makes me feel better and provides a break from my overactive mind.
After doing the LONDON marathon in 2021, I was impacted by the support I received as well as the generosity and people connecting and speaking about their own struggles with mental health.
It sparked a growth of positivity and I have tried to stay true to that.
In September 2022, I attended a 6 day silent meditation retreat at GAIA House in Devon, through their financial assistance bursary.
FAB https://gaiahouse.co.uk/booking-conditions/financial-assistance/
That experience paved the way for my continuous spiritual growth and provided a breathing space where I was able to reflect and re-establish connection and control over the mind.
In October that year I went on to run the AMSTERDAM marathon completing it in under 4 hours, a personal best.
After that, I vowed to maintain a level of fitness so I can stay disciplined and focused both physically and mentally.
Its now June 2023, I am over 12 months sober from alcohol and have completed 10 marathons, 5 in the last 6 weeks alone.
I believe that the time I had at GAIA house allowed me to have a sustained internal conversation with myself, that is hard to achieve in our modern lifestyle.
I’ve reached a number milestones and now try to apply the philosophy of MOVE, MAKE, MEDITATE to by daily life.
In life, there is much suffering. Most of it comes from within.
Our expectations and shame as well as low self-esteem creating a false narrative that we aren’t good enough.
In the last 2 years I have applied my learning experience and carried it through into daily living.
I now know there is genuine truth in "life is what you make it"
This is only my interpretation of my experience. People will have to experience it for themselves to see what it can do for them.
If others can have access to this opportunity and I can raise the money to provide that opportunity for them, then that is truth and meaning.
I’ve set a target of £2,500. This is no easy feat.
It would pay for 5 people to attend a 5 night retreat which could be as life changing as it has been for me.
All I can do is share my honest feelings and run 34 miles from Woolwich to Richmond.
Why this feels especially profound is that it is 20 years ago, I took part in the NIKE 10K in RICHMOND. (Sun 7 Sep 2003)
This was my first organised run.
Which sparked the internal joy, a place to converse with the soul.
So, starting the run in WOOLWICH, where I currently live and to finish in RICHMOND, where it all began has some poetic meaning of finding oneself.