Frozen. But not in the way you would think.
He’s a born and bred Winnipeg boy so the fact that the mountainside was a brisk zero degrees Celsius, or thirty two degrees Fahrenheit, had little to do with the fact that he could not move. He had pushed just a tad bit too far in search of his physical limits and had found them. But, of course, that was the point.
He had climbed over fourteen thousand feet the day before and had done quite well. His goal had been met but there was still some gas left in the tank. He decided to push further on the second climb and see how far he could go.
By the time he reached thirteen thousand feet on the second climb his Parkinson’s symptoms had been 
thrown into overdrive. The tremors were uncontrollable as he shook from head to toe. The dyskinesia’s or large flailing movements made him feel as though he were thrashing about the mountainside. He was incredibly tired. And then he just stopped. It’s aptly called ‘freezing’. His body simply would not respond. Any effort to move was met with a rippling tremor across his frame and then nothing. After much concentration and determination a foot would finally move. And then slowly he would move on.
Why would a middle aged man of fifty five years with moderately advanced Parkinson’s disease climb a mountain?
There had been a story online about another man with Parkinson’s who had climbed mount Kilimanjaro and it resonated in his soul as he read it. He needed to do this while he still could. Ultimately the goal took shape in Mount Evans. As a part of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado Mount Evans is a beautiful peek standing over fourteen thousand feet tall.
This climb would be the real deal. There were no paved walkways, no shelters or snack stands dotting a man made scenic route. This was about backpacks, hiking poles, good boots and bouldering. There was lots of snow to slip on and precious little oxygen for the prairie boy to breath. The exertion led to shortness of breath and a rapid heart rate resulting in frequent stops just to let his system settle down. And the occasional bought of freezing.
And the wind would blow. So hard and so cold the wind would blow.
He said, ‘At one point I looked down and couldn’t see our start point. I looked up and couldn’t see the peak. In that moment I wasn’t sure I could make it.’ However, he recalled Roger who had climbed mount Kilimanjaro. Roger had started out as a diabetic with sleep apnea who required the use of a cane. By the time he got himself in shape and climbed his mountain those ailments were gone. Blair decided to put one foot in front of the other and move on. In doing so he reached the peak of mount Evans.
When I asked him, ‘Why did you do it?’ he laughed and said, ‘Because I’m nuts!’ After he became serious and said, ‘No matter what life throws at you, you don’t have to climb a mountain but you can persevere and meet your goals.’ He went on to share that this was the hardest physical challenge he had ever undertaken. As to whether he would do it again or not the answer was, ‘Absolutely, for as long as I can!’
Blair Sigurdson is a friend of mine and a fantastic example of what I share with audiences when I encourage them to stay in the race and Live Your Best. The ability to get
out of our own heads, move past our ‘inabilities’ and discover new frontiers. Blair’s story is about discovering new success and abilities where others might sit at home on the couch.
We won’t all go climb mountains in the physical sense but without a doubt we all face peaks that need to be scaled. So, what mountain top do you long to stand atop with arms raised? Let this story of perseverance be the encouragement for you to put one foot in front of the other, stay in the race and discover your next win in life. You can do this. There is a win waiting for you at the top of your personal mountain. Now, go get it.
The Next Big Thing In Speaking
I am very excited to introduce to you who I think is the next really big thing on the speaking circuit! (Not that I am at all biased!) His past few years have been filled with completing his business degree, living out on the east coast as his wife pursued a law degree and raising their beautiful one year old daughter.
He is now in a position to hit the road and share with you his Amazing story of ‘Embrace the Weird’. It is Tim Jr’s story of winning The Amazing Race Canada and how to embrace all that makes you different from the rest. It is a message that needs to be heard by middle school classrooms, high school assemblies, youth groups and many a boardroom. Book Tim Jr to speak at your next event you will not be disappointed!
Contact Tim Jr at: 204-990-6605 or via email at tmaxhague@gmail.com
World Parkinson’s Congress 2016
Having the opportunity to attend the 4th WPC was an incredible experience. A delegation of individuals from Manitoba were able to attend the gathering in Portland, Oregon among whom were a group of health care providers from the Movement Disorders Clinic, Dr. Julius Anang from the St. Boniface Clinic, staff from U-Turn Parkinson’s, Parkinson Canada (Manitoba) and a number of individuals living with Parkinson’s. It was an awesome chance to connect with other charities, healthcare providers and individuals from around the globe who are all working toward the goals of defeating Parkinson’s disease.
I have provided some links here for more information on WPC2016. Click the following pictures for more.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS for the World Parkinson’s Congress in 2019 which will be held in June of that year in the beautiful city of Kyoto, Japan!
The Book Update 
I am working hard in the midst of a busy speaking schedule to complete my manuscript by the summer of 2017! My publisher, Penguin Random House Canada, anticipates a launch date of Spring 2018. Yes! I am extremely excited…and mildly stressed! Wish me well as I push forward in this journey.
Booking Now for 2017
Many of you are looking ahead to your Spring Conferences and Events and planning speakers NOW is the time to book me. Please do not wait and miss the opportunity to have me share the insights learned from having run and won The Amazing Race Canada with Parkinson’s. My signature keynote will inspire your corporate team or Parkinson’s community to stay in the race and experience new success and discover new wins through the lessons of Live Your Best.
If you have had the chance to experience my Live Your Best keynote and are looking for something new enquire today about my keynote on Team Work; Amazing Wins!
Book Tim Sr. HERE
What’s in a hashtag #UTurnPD?
In the context of The Amazing Race Canada a u-turn is used to slow down and/or eliminate another team from the race. It is our goal to help slow Parkinson’s disease and one day see it eliminated from life! So, when you are tagging to me on social media (TimHagueSr on Twitter, FaceBook or Instagram) make sure you use the hashtag #UTurnPD and help me raise awareness!
Tim Hague Sr. Author / Professional Speaker / Parkinson’s Advocate / TEDx Speaker / Winner of The Amazing Race Canada season #1. Tim was diagnosed with Young Onset Parkinson’s Disease at the age of 46. He hails from Winnipeg Canada where he resides with his wife and children. For event bookings or to learn more about Tim go to www.TimSr.ca.
