2 posts tagged “no pain”

I have to say I was not looking forward to the firewalk like I was the skydive. I was so excited about the skydive from months before, the firewalk was something I was just doing. I had doubts.

For the first time, a couple of hours before I was due to arrive at Hearing Dogs, I looked on the Blaze website. It reassured me as they have 100% no injury record. I was a little excited by the time I arrived at Hearing Dogs and signed my life away just after 7pm.

By 7.20pm all of those taking this challenge were seated in the puppy hall and met Martin, the guy who was going to instil in us the ability to walk on fire. After a brief introduction from Martin about how long he has been doing this and how he got into it in the first place he explained the physics of it to us, its all to do with how carbon burns. He asked us to put up our hands if we had a voice in our head, only me and three others raised our hands. Martin said “ right those of you who did not put your hands up, how many had a voice in their head saying ‘I don’t have a voice in my head’? Lots of laughter. Of course we all do, its called thinking. “That’s what you have to get past” said Martin. “Your voice is going to keep telling you that fire is hot and you WILL burn”. We carried out a few exercises showing ( with our eyes shut so as not to be embarrassed) pi**ed off and uncertain. Its all about reading our body language so he will know if we have doubts.

We then went out to look at the fire, smell the smoke and walk next to it to count our steps so we have the distance measured in our own minds. Eight steps for me. The Blaze team had been carefully constructing and lighting the fire whilst we were in the hall. Then back into the hall after a 10 min loo and fag break to do practise walks ~ just on the hall floor, no fire involved yet.

Building the fire




Ignition



Us getting to know the fire and checking our number of steps





Our supporters



This is the fire burning whilst we were doing our practise walks



We all did our practise walk three times. Martin then suggested to us that when we went back out not to look or wave at our beloved friends and family as they would look scared or worried or make comments which could cause us doubt, much as they love us and have come to give support. He told us we are heroes. He told us that people will try and take away from our fantastic experience but not to let them.
So out we all go towards the fire not looking at our supporters. We all walk round the fire, it is HOT. The voice starts. We are all geeing each other along around the fire “Lovely fire. You are my friend. You will not burn me. I can do this.” Then Martins voice, “ Shoes and socks off now and line up. ARE WE READY!”

The preparation of the fire for us to walk it




A few others went before me, we all cheer them on. Then I was up. Martin stood in front of me. “What’s your name?” he booms. “KAREN !” I shout back as per instructions from earlier. “Are you ready?” booms Martin. “YES I AM!!!” I shout back. And I was. Off I stepped, the first step still on the cool grass and then on the coals, shouting a word with each step, “ I -AM -KAREN- AND- I- CAN -WALK -ON -FIRE !"Then I was back on grass being hugged by those who had already gone.
Shoes off and waiting


Me firewalking, my friend apologises for the shake in the pic but she was busy cheering me



It seemed like no distance, it was about 20ft, I felt like it could’ve been 40ft and I still could’ve done it. Whilst on the coals it felt like hot sand on a summers day temperature wise and crunched under my feet like crisp deep snow, compacting as I stepped. I knew my inner voice had some effect on how my first step on the coals had been. As soon as I touched the coals my voice said “Go really quickly now this is bl**dy hot.” So my first step was a bit of a jig but I paced myself and succeeded. It’s a fantastic feeling, personally for me not quite to same degree as the skydive but exhilarating all the same.

We all returned to the hall really buzzing. Martin told us again that tonight we had gone from zero to hero and we should be so proud of ourselves. “ For each of you here tonight there are at least 10 others who have seen the poster and said ‘I could do that anyway’ but they haven’t and at least as many again who have said ‘No way, I could never do that.’ but they too could’ve been a hero tonight.”
A round of applause for Martin for heartfelt thanks and off we went to meet our supporters and have a group pic or two taken. ( whilst saying "fire" of course)



Blaze also organise broken glass walks. This is another 20ft walk but the techniques used are different and the walk takes about a minute rather than some seconds. I think I will do this next year.

Doing this has given me tools to achieve just about anything in my life. I feel empowered for sure. Why don’t you give it a go?