I believe training for an Ironman is more of a lifestyle rather than a hobby. It touches everyone and everything in your life. You try your best to plan your training around all of life's other commitments and responsibilities. About 6 weeks out from your race (where I am now), you remember how hard your training is, how exhausting it is, and how much time it requires. I always find motivation in things I read. Why do we do what we do? What keeps us moving forward? Whether your training involves 20 hour weeks or your just trying to find the time to get fit for your first 5K...read on.
Kristin Armstrong is an author of several motivational books and has written articles in Runner's World. I love her perspective and insight into running and friendships and what motivates us. Below is an excerpt from her book "Mile Markers: The 26.2 Reasons Most Important Reasons Why Women Run"
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"People keep
asking me about my next marathon like I must have a next marathon. It's
valid, though, to wonder why someone would go on a 2 hour plus run on
weekends without a plan or goal in mind. "Why?" one might ask. "What's
the point?" I know I always feel better after my run, even if I'm
depleted in my body - my soul is full. One morning this week I read a
devotional before my run by an author by the name of Bertha Munro. It
began by saying "Bless me and make me a blessing"
Then it went on to explain that the biggest way we can help those we
love is by having already helped ourselves. We are suppose to work at
our fitness in all capacities (spiritual, mental, emotional, physical).
If we are fit, in every sense of that word, then when someone we love
needs us, we can make a difference. Fitness has a purpose far beyond
vanity, beyond even good health, when a person is trained to think of it
in these terms."
"The other part of the devotional read "You
cannot always do something to help your friends, but you can always be
something to help them..." Okay that's it. That's why I train, right
there. I don't train because I want to be able to do things (run a
faster 5K, make someone eat my dust on a trail, though those things
aren't bad). I train because I want to be someone better than I would
be if I didn't train. If someone I love is faltering, I want to be the
kind of person who
can haul some ass. I want to be first on the scene. I want to be
strong enough to carry some of his or her burden along with my own. I
want to have a clear head and a clear heart so if I'm asked for advice, I
can offer wisdom. If my big opportunity arises to serve, I want to be
ready. If it takes more out of me than I anticipated, I want to know
something about endurance. If someone I love looks at me with eyes full
of fear, terrified that she won't be able to finish whatever happens to
lie ahead, I want to look at her, wordless, with unblinking eyes that
assure her that there is no way that she won't. That right there is why
I run."
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"The secret to life is to put yourself in the right lighting. For some, it's a Broadway spotlight, for others, a lamplit desk. Use your natural powers - of persistence, concentration, and insight - to do the work you love and work that matters" - Susan Cain
Tuesday, June 24, 2014
Monday, February 10, 2014
Belief
I've vowed this year to take more time to write some of my thoughts down. I hate writing blogs about race reports because let's face it sometimes they can be BORING (unless I had a spectacular crash going downhill at 40mph and lived to tell about it!). For many people that know me well, I read a lot and much of that reading has to do with triathlons and running. I find so much inspiration in people's stories that I thought I'd use this blog as a way of sharing what motivates me.
Last year I completed IRONMAN Lake Placid and IRONMAN Wisconsin and I really had an exciting year. Up this year are a few half IRONMANs (New Orleans, Kansas) and IRONMAN Boulder. I have a number of goals for this year as I did for last year. I don't usually share these with anyone but myself and my coach. Coach's have a way of walking that fine line...being supportive and realistic all at the same time. In a discussion this morning about goals for New Orleans, my coach at the end of the "supportive but realistic" email simply said, "And ask yourself, "WHY NOT, me?"" I love that quote. A powerful statement that we don't often think about or say to others that can be applied to really anything in life. Our ability to meet our goals not only has to do with our hard work and consistency but also our belief in ourselves. That belief has to stay strong in your training and also in life when others are doing things differently than you are. That belief has to stay strong when others doubt you.
In the January issue of Lava Magazine there was an inspiring editor's note written by Brad Culp. He had been on a flight home from Kona for the World Championships and sat next to an elderly couple who had just experience watching an IRONMAN for the first time. Now it seems just about everyone I know that heads to Kona sits next to an elderly couple on the plane and is inspired one way or another. Maybe God puts them there for a purpose??!!? Anyways...here's an excerpt from his editorial.
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It was clear from the moment I sat down that they had not competed. While everyone else on the plane was wearing some form of compression garment and had a body fat percentage in the single digits, this couple was styled out in Hawaiian shirts and khaki shorts, and let's just say they weren't exactly race weight.
I asked if they had come to Kona to watch a friend or family member compete and they explained that it was merely coincidence they were in Hawaii at the same time as the race. They had come to the Big Island from Minneapolis to celebrate their wedding anniversary in the very same place where they had honeymooned in 1967. I apologized on behalf of everyone on the plane, assuming the chaos of the race had put a damper on what should have been a relaxing trip.
"There's no need to apologize", the woman said. "We loved it- so inspiring to watch all these people." I was shocked, "What did you enjoy most?" I asked.
"The man at the front desk of our hotel told us to go to the finish line just before midnight, if we were still awake," she said. "We got down there at about 10:30 and found a spot on the benches by the finish. I brought my book so I could read but I didn't read a word. Seeing the joy on those faces - some of them were even older than us - it was unlike anything I've ever seen. You really have to believe in yourself to do something like that at our age."
------------
Belief...ask yourself "WHY NOT, me?" in anything you set out to do.
Thanks Jen :)
Last year I completed IRONMAN Lake Placid and IRONMAN Wisconsin and I really had an exciting year. Up this year are a few half IRONMANs (New Orleans, Kansas) and IRONMAN Boulder. I have a number of goals for this year as I did for last year. I don't usually share these with anyone but myself and my coach. Coach's have a way of walking that fine line...being supportive and realistic all at the same time. In a discussion this morning about goals for New Orleans, my coach at the end of the "supportive but realistic" email simply said, "And ask yourself, "WHY NOT, me?"" I love that quote. A powerful statement that we don't often think about or say to others that can be applied to really anything in life. Our ability to meet our goals not only has to do with our hard work and consistency but also our belief in ourselves. That belief has to stay strong in your training and also in life when others are doing things differently than you are. That belief has to stay strong when others doubt you.
In the January issue of Lava Magazine there was an inspiring editor's note written by Brad Culp. He had been on a flight home from Kona for the World Championships and sat next to an elderly couple who had just experience watching an IRONMAN for the first time. Now it seems just about everyone I know that heads to Kona sits next to an elderly couple on the plane and is inspired one way or another. Maybe God puts them there for a purpose??!!? Anyways...here's an excerpt from his editorial.
------------
It was clear from the moment I sat down that they had not competed. While everyone else on the plane was wearing some form of compression garment and had a body fat percentage in the single digits, this couple was styled out in Hawaiian shirts and khaki shorts, and let's just say they weren't exactly race weight.
I asked if they had come to Kona to watch a friend or family member compete and they explained that it was merely coincidence they were in Hawaii at the same time as the race. They had come to the Big Island from Minneapolis to celebrate their wedding anniversary in the very same place where they had honeymooned in 1967. I apologized on behalf of everyone on the plane, assuming the chaos of the race had put a damper on what should have been a relaxing trip.
"There's no need to apologize", the woman said. "We loved it- so inspiring to watch all these people." I was shocked, "What did you enjoy most?" I asked.
"The man at the front desk of our hotel told us to go to the finish line just before midnight, if we were still awake," she said. "We got down there at about 10:30 and found a spot on the benches by the finish. I brought my book so I could read but I didn't read a word. Seeing the joy on those faces - some of them were even older than us - it was unlike anything I've ever seen. You really have to believe in yourself to do something like that at our age."
------------
Belief...ask yourself "WHY NOT, me?" in anything you set out to do.
Thanks Jen :)
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