Approaching 60 Years-An American Hero ( Inspirational ND Speaker )

I love this time of year when the Bismarck Marathon rolls around

We are now into September, and runners from all over town are counting down to the Bismarck Marathon - September 21-22. The full 26.2 miles will be run on a Sunday - this is the dream of many who have spent months preparing for this, and for many, this will be their first one. Just last weekend I watched one of my favorite movies - RUNNING BRAVE  -  a true story about Billy Mills, born in Pine Ridge, South Dakota, and was raised on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation for Oglala Lakota people.

From the University of Kansas to the United States Marines

Mills was a talented runner and was recruited to run for the Kansas Jayhawks. A strong-willed, proud young man, helped his school win championships in 1959 and 1960. After entering the United States Marine Corps, Billy never lost sight of the Olympics - He qualified for his dream in 1964 in the 10,000 meters - he came into Tokyo as a virtual unknown - the odds of him winning a medal were pretty astronomical. Billy ran with great emotion, compelled by thoughts of his father - according to americanindianmagazine.org  as he lapped a German runner, he thought he saw an eagle on the other man’s insignia. The sight reminded him of his father’s words long ago: “right now your wings are broken, but someday you will have the wings of an eagle.” Mills sprinted down the center of the track, arms pumping wildly" - it was an amazing illusion, but his victory was real! October 14, 1964

An American hero - who continues to motivate and encourage others

 https://indianyouth.org/ -  "At the 1964 Olympics, he shocked the world and came from behind to win the gold medal in the 10,000 meters race. At the time, he set a world record of 28 minutes, 24.4 seconds and is still the only American to ever win a gold medal in the 10K event. His win was an upset that has been called the second greatest moment in Olympic history.In Lakota culture, someone who achieves great success has a ‘giveaway’ to thank the support system of family and friends who helped him achieve his goal. As part of his effort to give back to his community, Billy helped found Running Strong for American Indian Youth and became the organization’s National Spokesperson"  Billy has been to North Dakota several times sharing his wonderful passion - Today, he is the national spokesman for Running Strong for American Indian Youth, a nonprofit organization he cofounded that helps communities with self-sufficiency programs. He and his wife Patricia now live in Sacramento, California, where Mills owns and operates Billy Mills Speakers Bureau - he is 86 years old, and he is one of my heroes, not for what he did on the track, but for what he stands for.

Olympics YouTube

I could watch this a million times!