| Perseverance, Dedication and Indomitable Spirit |
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Since the new website has gone up, many have asked why I use the words Perseverance, Dedication and Indomitable Spirit when I sum up the triathlon experience. To keep it short I will talk about perseverance this month. It is great to see it is alive and kicking in our club and the club athletes, which is inspiring. Perseverance is usually summed up as the commitment to stay with something when the going gets tough, and to finish the task. With this sport, as well as our everyday lives, obstacles of all sorts arise. If it was always smooth sailing, then there would never be the opportunity for growth or appreciation. From appreciation we learn, grow and become a better person and a better athlete. All obstacles should be looked at as a way for self improvement and self discovery. Perseverance is being able to see through the obstacles and to continue in a calm manner, without complaint and with patience. Each of us should remember that we set ourselves up for our own destiny. When learning needs to happen, then the universe will deal up a set of cards. Which card we pick is the one we are meant to follow to grow from. It may not seem like a good card at the time, nor may you fully understand the meaning for a few months or even years, but when you understand the card you picked, it means you have reached the end of that experience, you have learnt the lesson, so-to-speak. This word is a hard one, with perseverance comes sacrifices, decisions that allow us to gain leeway so that we can deal with another problem. It isn't always the way we want to do things but if you get through it then you have succeeded. How about some examples in our club at the moment? Michael S was only ever going to be fit at 50 and really just wanted to learn to swim. His new challenge is to race at Budapest next year in world championships. With the dedication and perseverance that Michael has shown over the years, he will be there racing in 2010. Anna T, well… injury has plagued her ironman pathway for this year but her perseverance (she is still training despite the challenges) and sacrifices have lead to a new decision and one that we can all see will lead to her ironman goal later - just not this year. What she has gained though is a new meaning for what triathlon means to her and what training consistently will do to her progress. And a final example before you read the rest of the newsletter. Mel K. She has had a cracker of a half ironman at Yeppoon this year and that was due to her dedication and perseverance with the training program. Mel has not let her current health detract from the real Mel K spirit. She is out every day now. She is recovering by walking, (not running, cycling or swimming) but walking. While she could have just given up and gone shopping, she is out challenging herself as much as she can and achieving new personal goals -that is perseverance. Coach Cath |
