I just did a quick little search of the word "athlete" and this is what the Oxford Dictionary spat out at me: "a person who is proficient in sports and other forms of physical exercise." Well that's nice and broad, now isn't it? As it should be!! Let me expand... (Warning: this might be a long one).
I have recently had the pleasure of working with a number of very talented rowers in a program I have started called "DRIVE." This program runs out of the Pacific Institute of Sport Excellence (my awesome, amazing, oh-so-good workplace) and it's purpose is to introduce rowers of all ages and abilities to strength and conditioning. We lift heavy weights, we build up our core, we encourage mobility and balance. We also encourage a little bit of fun and, of course, the pursuit of excellence.
I began with a program for Juniors. In my 13 years of rowing, I have seen a lot of injuries and have also witnessed many burnouts. In a sport that emphasizes countless kilometers compounded with a go-til-you-drop mentality, it's not completely surprising. My hope was to give young athletes a strong, balanced body that could support their sport, so they could remain in it longer and hopefully remain injury free. In a word, PREVENTION! Why wait unil your rib fractures before you worry about stability? That's what I did, and I don't recommend it.
I still had my head in the Olympic bubble. I was thinking of young athletes who may be National Team bound. I soon realized, however, that there was this whole other niche of athletes who were just as competitive and as much (if not more so!?) in need of strength and conditioning. The masters rowers of Victoria, BC.
I cannot say enough about this group (and I have had several sessions of masters rowers, which I am now grouping into one). They are ultra competitive, they want to be fast, they are dedicated, they work bloody hard and they are simply hungry to improve. Perhaps I see a lot of myself in all of them!?! I think so... Regardless, it is a whole mass of athletes that seem to fly under the radar simply because their goal is not the Olympic Games. Many will compete at National and World Championships, but for a number of reasons (your hypotheses are as good as mine), their progress, challenges and successes are undervalued.
The purpose of this post is to fight back a little. I see no reason why Masters athletes cannot be as valued as every other rower out there. I have been a junior, I have been on the National team, and now I am working with Masters and guess what - we're all the same. We all have heart. The best among us are just the ones who learn patience when it comes to technique, and how to suffer when it comes to training. Medals are medals - what makes a real athlete is the fire in one's eyes. I know you know what I'm talking about...
I have made it a personal mission of mine to help all athletes feel valued. I will do whatever I can for anyone who pursues excellence in athletics. Whether you want to kick butt as a masters downhill cyclist (working with one of those), survive a cross-Cambodia road ride (also one of those) or win multiple world medals at the age of 77 (yep - also one of those), if I can, I will help you make it happen. The more athletes I meet the more I realize that amazing people of all ages come from everywhere, and it isn't a medal or a regatta that defines them. If you've got that fire, if you've got HEART, it really doesn't matter at all where you end up. So cliche but so true..... it's all about the journey and you can start it no matter how old you are.
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Friday, June 24, 2011
Here's to You
Well, it has been AGES since my last blog post and I have been inspired to begin writing again. I began this page as a sort of therapy when life seemed a little more challenging. Once I felt balanced and centered again, I stopped writing and basically forgot about it. Since then, it has come to my attention that people are again taking interest in the site, so I should begin by saying “thank you.” It is you who invigorate and energize me. I will begin once again to share my thoughts and experiences with all of you, in hopes that you find something in it and in turn, share your positive energy with me.
A lot has happened in the last few months and I must honestly admit that I haven’t been happier. Every day that passes I feel more and more blessed, and it’s largely due to the people in my life. I am really lucky to know a lot of really unique and amazing individuals. As I referred to in my last post, it is their light that inspires me to better myself. In the next few posts, I would like to refer to a TED talk to direct my thoughts. The subject of the talk is the "Happy Planet Index" by Nic Marks (definitely worth watching – an amazing series overall).
Marks looks at the way we define success today, namely through monetary values. He remarks that this is not an accurate measure of wealth, and I wholeheartedly agree with him. He refers to Robert Kennedy who, in assessing the GNP, noted that it "...measures everything, in short, except that which makes life worthwhile." So Marks proposes the following five things that are liable to make one happier, and improve well-being. He also suggests ranking national (and individual) successes based on these five items. They are:
1. Connect
2. Be active
3. Take notice
4. Keep learning
5. Give
Obviously, today’s post is about the first on the list, which is to connect. This includes connecting both with those around you and with yourself. Thank you to all of you who are in my life. You make every day worth living and fill me with strength and joy. I have gained a keener sense of my own self through interactions with you. I really hope that everyone can feel the same, and realizes the importance of opening yourself to others and also being true to oneself. Again, even when pursuing your greatest goals it is important to take stock of your relationships – they are what keep you grounded and whole.
I have recently started rowing again. The end goal? I cannot be sure. I do know this however: I am doing it out of love and no matter where this or anything else in my life takes me, my connections take precedence.
A lot has happened in the last few months and I must honestly admit that I haven’t been happier. Every day that passes I feel more and more blessed, and it’s largely due to the people in my life. I am really lucky to know a lot of really unique and amazing individuals. As I referred to in my last post, it is their light that inspires me to better myself. In the next few posts, I would like to refer to a TED talk to direct my thoughts. The subject of the talk is the "Happy Planet Index" by Nic Marks (definitely worth watching – an amazing series overall).
Marks looks at the way we define success today, namely through monetary values. He remarks that this is not an accurate measure of wealth, and I wholeheartedly agree with him. He refers to Robert Kennedy who, in assessing the GNP, noted that it "...measures everything, in short, except that which makes life worthwhile." So Marks proposes the following five things that are liable to make one happier, and improve well-being. He also suggests ranking national (and individual) successes based on these five items. They are:
1. Connect
2. Be active
3. Take notice
4. Keep learning
5. Give
Obviously, today’s post is about the first on the list, which is to connect. This includes connecting both with those around you and with yourself. Thank you to all of you who are in my life. You make every day worth living and fill me with strength and joy. I have gained a keener sense of my own self through interactions with you. I really hope that everyone can feel the same, and realizes the importance of opening yourself to others and also being true to oneself. Again, even when pursuing your greatest goals it is important to take stock of your relationships – they are what keep you grounded and whole.
I have recently started rowing again. The end goal? I cannot be sure. I do know this however: I am doing it out of love and no matter where this or anything else in my life takes me, my connections take precedence.
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Dimensions
I love a New Year. The idea of a new beginning can sometimes be very appealing. Sure I am throwing some serious cliches your way, but it's true! Somehow I have found myself changing all over the place, and it happens to coincide with the beginning of 2011. Coincidence? I think so.
I went home for Christmas and realized that things just weren't the way they should be. I still wasn't working,... all I was doing was training and I was pretty exhausted. I slept A LOT when I was home and barely had any energy for running, swimming, biking.. anything! Not a way to live. The pity party ended as soon as I returned to Victoria. Time to put my big girl pants on and invoke change.
I went to a nearby gym the day after I got home and inquired about job opportunities. Wouldn't you know it - they were looking for new employees and were hiring that week. I couldn't believe my luck. I went in for an interview last week and BAM.... finally landed a job! Furthermore, I had thought I was applying for a floor attendant position. Nope! Teaching boot camp-style classes and personal training. I am so excited I can barely contain myself. I worked my first class at 6:15am on Friday and woke up at 3am that morning because I couldn't wait to go in. I feel very fortunate and excited for the future.
My post today is about dimensions. I am suddenly finding myself so fulfilled because I have many things happening now that don't require a singular focus. The reason elite sport was so dangerous for me is that I was only focusing on training and diet. All of my energy went into my body and an analysis of how it was performing (dangerous ground to be sure, especially in a weight category). I never gave my brain a chance to work or be creative, and my spirit would sometimes get lost in the training shuffle. It's a bit of a Catch 22 because some people believe that to be a champion, you MUST train all day and have that singular focus. You know what? It works for some, but it certainly does not work for everyone.
I recently read a book called "Talent is Overrated" by Geoff Colvin. In his book, Colvin essentially shows how people we consider as gifted or talented are actually people just like you and I who work really, really, really hard. I rather enjoyed the read and found it very interesting. In the end, you can always be and do whatever you want if you put the time and effort in. The message that hit home for me however, was not this message but the following: many people who relentlessly chase a goal will often lead lonely lives. In fact, many of the top CEOs in the world are sociopaths! Some may chase dreams so tirelessly that they don't realize it may be at the expense of relationships, finances, futures, environment... Again, this is not everyone, but it definitely was me. Again, time to change!
This revelation has been huge for me and I am only now realizing that I would rather live a full, well-rounded life than to strive to be great at one thing. It is still hard for me to write that and I haven't fully come to terms with it, but here's the truth: everyone is already outstanding. Why do I need a gold medal to be a champion? Why do I need top grades to prove I am intelligent? Why does anyone need external validation? I missed weddings, birthdays, funerals, relationships... All because I put all of my eggs in one basket. The world is too big to be pigeon-holed.
There is nothing wrong with chasing your dreams. I absolutely loved my experience as a national athlete and I commend anyone who goes after what they want as relentlessly as is required at that kind of level, in any arena. The lesson I have learned is to keep perspective and remember that you are not defined by your dreams - they are only an extension of your self, they are not YOU. Every human is just as worthy as the next. Our actions are what make us different, and some people's actions can be described as more or less valuable. These actions, however, do not make the person more valuable. We are all champions!
Here's to balance, not only in body but mind and spirit as well.
I went home for Christmas and realized that things just weren't the way they should be. I still wasn't working,... all I was doing was training and I was pretty exhausted. I slept A LOT when I was home and barely had any energy for running, swimming, biking.. anything! Not a way to live. The pity party ended as soon as I returned to Victoria. Time to put my big girl pants on and invoke change.
I went to a nearby gym the day after I got home and inquired about job opportunities. Wouldn't you know it - they were looking for new employees and were hiring that week. I couldn't believe my luck. I went in for an interview last week and BAM.... finally landed a job! Furthermore, I had thought I was applying for a floor attendant position. Nope! Teaching boot camp-style classes and personal training. I am so excited I can barely contain myself. I worked my first class at 6:15am on Friday and woke up at 3am that morning because I couldn't wait to go in. I feel very fortunate and excited for the future.
My post today is about dimensions. I am suddenly finding myself so fulfilled because I have many things happening now that don't require a singular focus. The reason elite sport was so dangerous for me is that I was only focusing on training and diet. All of my energy went into my body and an analysis of how it was performing (dangerous ground to be sure, especially in a weight category). I never gave my brain a chance to work or be creative, and my spirit would sometimes get lost in the training shuffle. It's a bit of a Catch 22 because some people believe that to be a champion, you MUST train all day and have that singular focus. You know what? It works for some, but it certainly does not work for everyone.
I recently read a book called "Talent is Overrated" by Geoff Colvin. In his book, Colvin essentially shows how people we consider as gifted or talented are actually people just like you and I who work really, really, really hard. I rather enjoyed the read and found it very interesting. In the end, you can always be and do whatever you want if you put the time and effort in. The message that hit home for me however, was not this message but the following: many people who relentlessly chase a goal will often lead lonely lives. In fact, many of the top CEOs in the world are sociopaths! Some may chase dreams so tirelessly that they don't realize it may be at the expense of relationships, finances, futures, environment... Again, this is not everyone, but it definitely was me. Again, time to change!
This revelation has been huge for me and I am only now realizing that I would rather live a full, well-rounded life than to strive to be great at one thing. It is still hard for me to write that and I haven't fully come to terms with it, but here's the truth: everyone is already outstanding. Why do I need a gold medal to be a champion? Why do I need top grades to prove I am intelligent? Why does anyone need external validation? I missed weddings, birthdays, funerals, relationships... All because I put all of my eggs in one basket. The world is too big to be pigeon-holed.
There is nothing wrong with chasing your dreams. I absolutely loved my experience as a national athlete and I commend anyone who goes after what they want as relentlessly as is required at that kind of level, in any arena. The lesson I have learned is to keep perspective and remember that you are not defined by your dreams - they are only an extension of your self, they are not YOU. Every human is just as worthy as the next. Our actions are what make us different, and some people's actions can be described as more or less valuable. These actions, however, do not make the person more valuable. We are all champions!
Here's to balance, not only in body but mind and spirit as well.
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