I'm currently reading "Born Tu Run" by Christopher McDougall; an absolutely fantastic read and one I would recommend to anyone. I was originally attracted to the book because it features my Coach Eric Orton, who helped transform the author from a runner with a history of injuries to one who was able to complete a 50 mile ultramarathon. But the true plot of the book is way beyond a training manual, McDougall's words in some way capture the essence of training hard and pushing oneself, the purity one can find in sport and the motivation athletes find to get out of bed each day.
When McDougall introduces Scott Jurek, perhaps the greatest ultra runner of all time, the words used to describe him screamed at me; reminding me why I love sport, and why I love to train.
"Strictly by accident, Scott stumbled upon the most advanced weapon in the ultrarunner's arsenal: instead of cringing from fatigue, you embrace it. You refuse to let it go. You get to know it so well, you're not afraid of it anymore.... You can't hate the Beast and expect to beat it; the only way to truly conquer something, as every great philosopher and geneticist will tell you, is to love it."
McDougall's description of how an athlete embraces the pain, torment and fatigue faced during training and racing is why I am so passionate about sports. Since I have been a child I have been at my best when my body has been at its worst. I have strived to push myself to my body's limit then see if I had more left in the tank. In some weird way when the pain is at its worst, when the conditions couldn't get more dire that is when I am most at peace and that is when I feel most alive.
What the first 209 pages of McDougall's book has reminded me of is that sport for so many people and cultures around the world is how we can find ourselves. That the challenge presented with a run, a lift, a hike or a bike ride can allow each of us to find inner peace and power. When I have to look deeper into my soul to finish a training session; when I am alone, on a ride with my legs screaming and my head aching, when I am in the gym forcing myself to do one more rep, or having just finished throwing up after a sprint and thirsting for more that I feel most aware of who I am and most at peace with the world around me. In that, diabetes has become the ultimate motivator; through embracing the challenge I have been able to find great serenity.
Showing posts with label Motivation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Motivation. Show all posts
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Monday, March 10, 2008
The Emptiness of An Endurance Sport
Sunday, for the first time in months I decided to skip my long run, put my feet up for the day and relax. My mind, body and soul all were exhausted from a draining few weeks so I simply needed to recharge. After a long and in-depth conversation with my Coach we decided to pull out of the Shamrock Marathon in Virginia Beach. Coach Eggers fully felt that I could finish the race but only at a slow and steady pace. My competitive spirit won't allow me "just to do something," I feel the need to challenge myself at every turn. Entering an event with the idea of just finishing really sat poorly with me, I knew full well once the gun went off I would have killed myself to get past the finish as quickly as I possibly could. Given my psychotic competitive spirit we both determined that the marathon would be a huge detriment to my training.
But all this got me thinking about endurance sports, the challenge they present and how they directly contrast to my athletic past. As a football player I was motivated not only by my desire to be a good player but more importantly my refusal to let my teammates down. I would have done anything for my fellow lineman; Haggs, Latimer, Nate, Adam, Ricky, Noz, Archer, Ryan, Kubs, Baker and Ralphie are like brothers to me - I haven't spoken with some of them in years but if my phone rang and they needed anything I'd be the first to volunteer. The family spirit that football creates is totally absent from endurance sports. Where I would have been devastated if I ever let the boys down, the onus of preparation falls squarely on an individuals shoulders in Triathlon training. If I fail to prepare, if I don't give my all the only person I'm hurting is myself; sure I may fail to live up to other's expectations but in no way have I violated their trust.
Diabetes in many ways is like training for a triathlon. Each day we grind away, testing our blood sugars, measuring our carb intake and making it through to the best of our ability. When we can no longer handle all the metrics we must calculate to control our blood sugars we can take a meal off and in the short-term the only person we're hurting is our self. However, contrary to endurance sports in the long-term our families will suffer along with us due to the complications of not controlling our disease while the fear of death is constant motivation to manage one's blood sugar. In triathlon training, the only motivating factor is the question of whether crossing the finish line is important enough.
Like everything else in life sacrifices must be made; the only way one can have the stomach to sacrifice is if that goal, that person, that event is important enough to give you the strength to do it. Proving to myself that I am still an athlete and inspiring others with chronic illnesses is important enough to me to keep me motivated to train. In the recent past I have lost some of the other influences that gave me the strength to train but must focus on the positive as endurance sports are lonely enough. It is easy to sacrifice when you fear letting people whom you really care about down, but either when others aren't important enough or you're competing in an individual event you must find that one thing that will continually motivate you to train and sacrifice.
But all this got me thinking about endurance sports, the challenge they present and how they directly contrast to my athletic past. As a football player I was motivated not only by my desire to be a good player but more importantly my refusal to let my teammates down. I would have done anything for my fellow lineman; Haggs, Latimer, Nate, Adam, Ricky, Noz, Archer, Ryan, Kubs, Baker and Ralphie are like brothers to me - I haven't spoken with some of them in years but if my phone rang and they needed anything I'd be the first to volunteer. The family spirit that football creates is totally absent from endurance sports. Where I would have been devastated if I ever let the boys down, the onus of preparation falls squarely on an individuals shoulders in Triathlon training. If I fail to prepare, if I don't give my all the only person I'm hurting is myself; sure I may fail to live up to other's expectations but in no way have I violated their trust.
Diabetes in many ways is like training for a triathlon. Each day we grind away, testing our blood sugars, measuring our carb intake and making it through to the best of our ability. When we can no longer handle all the metrics we must calculate to control our blood sugars we can take a meal off and in the short-term the only person we're hurting is our self. However, contrary to endurance sports in the long-term our families will suffer along with us due to the complications of not controlling our disease while the fear of death is constant motivation to manage one's blood sugar. In triathlon training, the only motivating factor is the question of whether crossing the finish line is important enough.
Like everything else in life sacrifices must be made; the only way one can have the stomach to sacrifice is if that goal, that person, that event is important enough to give you the strength to do it. Proving to myself that I am still an athlete and inspiring others with chronic illnesses is important enough to me to keep me motivated to train. In the recent past I have lost some of the other influences that gave me the strength to train but must focus on the positive as endurance sports are lonely enough. It is easy to sacrifice when you fear letting people whom you really care about down, but either when others aren't important enough or you're competing in an individual event you must find that one thing that will continually motivate you to train and sacrifice.
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