‘Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me.’
Anyone who was bullied at school, or at any time in life, will know that this isn’t true. When it comes to sport we bandy around a lot of words that in my opinion are false descriptors: heroic, courageous, brave. The feats of athletes (and especially for me endurance athletes) may be awe inspiring and amazing feats of discipline and fights with the grey matter between the ears, but not heroic or courageous or brave.
Anyone who was bullied at school, or at any time in life, will know that this isn’t true. When it comes to sport we bandy around a lot of words that in my opinion are false descriptors: heroic, courageous, brave. The feats of athletes (and especially for me endurance athletes) may be awe inspiring and amazing feats of discipline and fights with the grey matter between the ears, but not heroic or courageous or brave.
Endurance sports are at their heart a pretty selfish endeavour (I’m just going to train 15-25 hours a week, and it’s all about me), and are well past the line that is about maintaining a good level of general fitness. Scratch below the surface and for most of us there is some hole we are trying to fill or some question we are trying to answer that drives us on. Or a little of both.
One word that keeps cropping up when I (sheepishly) tell people about Le Tour de Dugong is ‘inspirational’. It’s one that doesn’t sit well with me, because I am not special or gifted or a better swimmer/runner/cyclist that anyone else. I’ve just chosen to channel some considerable time, effort and energy into this endeavour and see how far I can go.
It has however made me think about the people who have inspired me, most (or probably all) of whom would shrug off the mantle too.
Carlee
A good friend, Carlee and I first met running up and down the sailing club “hill” (my experience of actual hills in North London has led me to the conclusion that the sailing club hill is actually an incline) Friday morning running session, and the 2012 Cairns 70.3 was the first half ironman for both of us. Shortly afterwards Carlee diverted her endurance athletics career down the path of motherhood. Putting me to shame, she ran with me late into her pregnancy, and after having Xavier in May 2013 is this weekend saddling up for the Geelong 70.3 half ironman. I am sure she will do well, but whatever the numbers say on the day I find her throwing her hat into the ring and training through new motherhood inspiring.
Robyn
Anyone who has made it to Kona (Ironman World Championship Race) once is pretty awesome, but four times is just being an overachiever. Especially when you are in your 50’s (or in the case of the fourth, just into your 60’s). Robyn has inspired me to question where my own personal limits are and to see my athletic career as a lifelong journey that can go as long as I am willing to put in the training, discipline and consistency. Her current challenge of training for Hawaii 70.3 this year after a comeback from bowel cancer has me cheering from the sidelines! I can’t wait to line up together in a little under four months time!
The Mum Squad
I was lucky enough to train in Darwin with a large number of amazing women who combined small children and training for half ironman, and usually a full time job too. Again, this stretched my idea of what is possible. And I don’t complain about fitting it all in, because that is no feat compared to what these ladies can do!
Stef
Winning her age group in her first ironman (Cairns 2013) and getting an entry to Kona, Stef manages to combine being a stellar athlete with being a top chick. I’m sorry that I’ve missed following her recent adventures and training up close this year in Darwin. Trying to carve out a career as a professional athlete is tough, especially given the rubbish money around for women, and even more so when you are putting another career that you are passionate about on hold.
Corinne
Speedy Corinne got started in the triathlon game at about the same time as me and the fear of her overtaking me, even though she is older than my parents, keeps me on my toes. Not that Corinne (or my parents) are old, but it is inspiring to see that hard work and determination work even when many are starting to put their feet up instead of get into long course triathlon.
Coach Daryl
Training, discipline and consistency. Daryl’s belief in me and quiet encouragement is what inspired the self belief and determination that got me to the finish line of my first half ironman (a pretty tough experience), and more importantly the second (a much better day out).
One word that keeps cropping up when I (sheepishly) tell people about Le Tour de Dugong is ‘inspirational’. It’s one that doesn’t sit well with me, because I am not special or gifted or a better swimmer/runner/cyclist that anyone else. I’ve just chosen to channel some considerable time, effort and energy into this endeavour and see how far I can go.
It has however made me think about the people who have inspired me, most (or probably all) of whom would shrug off the mantle too.
Carlee
A good friend, Carlee and I first met running up and down the sailing club “hill” (my experience of actual hills in North London has led me to the conclusion that the sailing club hill is actually an incline) Friday morning running session, and the 2012 Cairns 70.3 was the first half ironman for both of us. Shortly afterwards Carlee diverted her endurance athletics career down the path of motherhood. Putting me to shame, she ran with me late into her pregnancy, and after having Xavier in May 2013 is this weekend saddling up for the Geelong 70.3 half ironman. I am sure she will do well, but whatever the numbers say on the day I find her throwing her hat into the ring and training through new motherhood inspiring.
Robyn
Anyone who has made it to Kona (Ironman World Championship Race) once is pretty awesome, but four times is just being an overachiever. Especially when you are in your 50’s (or in the case of the fourth, just into your 60’s). Robyn has inspired me to question where my own personal limits are and to see my athletic career as a lifelong journey that can go as long as I am willing to put in the training, discipline and consistency. Her current challenge of training for Hawaii 70.3 this year after a comeback from bowel cancer has me cheering from the sidelines! I can’t wait to line up together in a little under four months time!
The Mum Squad
I was lucky enough to train in Darwin with a large number of amazing women who combined small children and training for half ironman, and usually a full time job too. Again, this stretched my idea of what is possible. And I don’t complain about fitting it all in, because that is no feat compared to what these ladies can do!
Stef
Winning her age group in her first ironman (Cairns 2013) and getting an entry to Kona, Stef manages to combine being a stellar athlete with being a top chick. I’m sorry that I’ve missed following her recent adventures and training up close this year in Darwin. Trying to carve out a career as a professional athlete is tough, especially given the rubbish money around for women, and even more so when you are putting another career that you are passionate about on hold.
Corinne
Speedy Corinne got started in the triathlon game at about the same time as me and the fear of her overtaking me, even though she is older than my parents, keeps me on my toes. Not that Corinne (or my parents) are old, but it is inspiring to see that hard work and determination work even when many are starting to put their feet up instead of get into long course triathlon.
Coach Daryl
Training, discipline and consistency. Daryl’s belief in me and quiet encouragement is what inspired the self belief and determination that got me to the finish line of my first half ironman (a pretty tough experience), and more importantly the second (a much better day out).
No comments:
Post a Comment