Several threads on the forum dance around this question today, and it is a big question.
What has your participation in endurance sports taught you about life?
That I can careen head first into a passenger door at 30mph and survive.
That it takes a very special woman to undestand and stay with an Ironman.
That regardless of what my mind wants, as my body gets older, it can’t always comply with the request.
That I simply cannot pee while moving.
That I can careen head first into a passenger door at 30mph and survive.
That it takes a very special woman to undestand and stay with an Ironman.
That regardless of what my mind wants, as my body gets older, it can’t always comply with the request.
That I simply cannot pee while moving.
Very astute and mature observations. Will you be my guru?
‘What has your participation in endurance sports taught you about life?’
There is ALWAYS someone faster, stronger, smarter on any given day. Always!!
JB
Training is like saving money. If you do it every day, take care of the little stuff, sacrifice when you have to, you get to really splurge when the right time comes.
Living on credit, putting off paying, the piper, is no bueno. Sooner or later your check will bounce or bonk just when you don’t want it to.
Age in inevitable so embrace it rather than hate it. I can accomplish anything I set my mind to. Whether you’re first, MOP, or last, everyone is a winner for just being out there. If someone asks you how your race was, they don’t care, they just want you to ask them so they can brag. Being a great athlete is temporary, it’s what you contribute to the sport, your community and those around you that will last. No one else cares how fast or slow you are, it’s a personal thing. Never brag about how you’re going to do because you’ll end up looking like a fool. Always be humble and modest.
There is more in everyone than they think they have.
Sports in general has taught me alot. Some happy lessons, some not so much.
A sampling:
Unless you are excellent, nobody gives a sh–, so you should be doing it for some other reason than trying to impress others.
There is always somebody better. In my case, there are lot’s of 'em.
Not all pain is bad. Nor does it require you to stop what you are doing.
The mind may be in charge, but that doesn’t mean the body won’t revolt every once in awhile.
Everyone has their limits. You should learn to be at peace with yours once you find them.
Sleep is good.
Food is better.
Practice, practice, practice
Things take time. Rome wasn’t built in a day. Patience is key.
Ice is hard.
Concrete is harder. And it leaves a rash.
Keep the rubber side down.
Sometimes it’s better to avoid obstacles than confront them head on.
Consistency is better than fancy training programs. And that there is no easy way.
That everyone is driven to over-exaggerate the value of human life and is obsessed with its deeper meaning.
I prefer to toe the line as a lump of goo in the skull of a naked ape, rather than a guilded child of God’s master plan searching for what it all means.
lots, inlcuding, that winners do the things that the losers aren’t willing to do
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I was a competitive swimmer in my youth and when I think about it, I actually learned a lot. In terms of “life skills” it taught me that everyone has limits and success is based on being brutally honest wioth yourself about what your limits are and working to improve them or learning how to work around them.
It is a very good thing if you can think at the same time you are competing.
Doing well is very very hard and takes a tremendous amount of work done consistantly and intelligently over a very long time.
The end result is very fleeting. You have to embrace the misery of the work and thrive on it if you want to find joy.
I can accomplish anything until my ego gets in the way.
Doing builds memories better than watching
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This might be the best thread I’ve ever started… Thanks guys.
We need a little icon thingy that says “this thread is all about Tom”
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Persistence will always get you to the finish line.
Losing is better than not participating.
Digger
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Peeing in my pants is ok sometimes.
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After 10 years, I’ve finally accepted I will never be a swimmer and that’s ok.
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Triathletes come in all shapes and sizes, and sometimes the fastest ones aren’t the smallest.
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If I can’t be fast, then I atleast have to look cute while training and racing.
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There are some real egotistical jerks in this sport, but there’s also some of the most amazing compassionate peeps as well.
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Life is about doing what you love and I absolutely love swimming, biking and running!
If you win the rat race, you’re still a rat.
Enjoy and respect everybody who is participating with you. Otherwise, you’ll someday be alone. Everybody comes with a different set of goals/objectives…
Rode with a guy on Tues AM…Bone Marrow cancer survivor, (2) totally replaced knees and currently ungoing Chemo for his Luekemia. “Racing” in his 2nd triathlon at LTF on Sat. Most positive guy I’ve rode with all year…