Lately, I’ve given some thought to what kind of athlete inspires me. There are so many individual athletes, both elite and recreational, who serve as role models for me. They all share one defining characteristic: unwavering dedication.
I am inspired by runners like Ryan Hall (U.S. half marathon national champion, and the first American to break the one-hour barrier at that distance) and Paula Radcliffe (women’s world marathon record holder, with a time of 2:15:25 in April 2003). While both of them are blessed with a significant amount of genetic talent and have been able to draw on a complete support network throughout their athletic careers, they are still the ones who go out there every day and work hard, do the training and stay focused in hopes of continuing to occupy the pinnacle of their sport.
Ryan Hall would never have run a sub one-hour half marathon if he did not get in his steady tempo sessions, his critical speed workouts, if he had not gone to bed early each and every night, and fuelled his body diligently and focused his mental energy. Radcliffe would likely never have run 5:15 minute miles 26 times in a row, as she lived up to the expectations of spectators and race organizers, had she not dedicated her life to running by working for years with the same coach, surrounded herself with the best physical therapists and doctors, planned her training program to peak for a specific time of year and put in countless double run sessions a day.
These two athletes have enjoyed huge success, and define the very top level of achievement in their sport. But it isn’t their phenomenally fast pace itself that inspires me; it is their unwavering dedication to the relentless training regimen required to succeed.
Hall and Radcliffe are able to focus their entire lives around this dedicated quest for athletic success; most of us have to work hard to carve out time for our athletic endeavours. I am equally inspired by this type of dedication, of the busy father who gets up before dawn to fit in his workout, or the top executive who squeezes in a run every day despite her overpacked schedule. Jobs, children, spouses, and all the rigours of everyday life cannot be pushed aside by the recreational athlete, so every achievement is all the more hard-won, and worthy of celebration.
The dedication shown by such athletes is just as impressive as that of elite athletes because the motivation is purely intrinsic and empowerment of self is the reward. I have met many senior corporate executives running major corporations, leading talented teams of employees and managing millions of dollars with extreme competence, strategic thinking and intelligence, who “all of a sudden” decide to register for a triathlon, a 10 km race or a major cycle trip. They may never have swum, ridden or run before but they are ready to learn the ropes and invest in the gear and find a challenge. Some even approach their new sport like a business: they plan their workouts, log their split times, count their calories, research the gear and acquire only the top notch carbon fibre, super light or aerodynamic training tools. Nothing makes me smile more than to see these high-powered individuals enjoying the challenge of an activity that brings new rewards and adventure into their lives.
No matter what the performance level of the athlete, in order to pursue a goal and to find success, we all need to focus on consistency and dedication. Enjoyment and accomplishment are sure to follow. I often remind myself to be dedicated and consistent when I reflect on what I have accomplished and where I want to go, and the journey along the way. I’ve been an athlete long enough, as a long-distance runner, road cyclist and Ironman triathlete, to know that there will be ebbs and flows, injury and energy, focus and distraction, but in the grand scheme of things it is my consistency that will allow me to be healthy, strong and fit. That, coupled with my dedication to the program, the plan and the goal, will get me closer to reaching my performance potential. There is no substitute, no easy short-cut.
This summer I raced in Lake Stevens, Washington. It was a 70.3 Half Ironman event (www.ironman70.3.com). I had the pleasure of racing alongside Heather Gollnick, Melissa Ashton, Rebecca Keats and Heather Fuhr, all full-time pro athletes and multiple Ironman champions at one time or another in their careers. Heather Fuhr is likely the most decorated of all the women who raced on that day, and I was thrilled to have finished just a mere 3 minutes behind her, in 7th place. What was most impressive about Fuhr was the way she ran by me like I was jogging on the spot. I watched her fly by and thought to myself, “I aspire to run at that speed and I know with work and consistency, I can.” On the backside of our calves our ages were written in ink. I glanced down at Heather’s calves and read “39”. She has seven years on me in life and likely 10 more in triathlon. She didn’t just wake up one day as a speedy runner. It took dedication and consistency. At first I felt deflated when I saw Heather run by but quickly I turned this mental blip into energy, and focused on the quality of my own run. It was like putting money in the bank for my big picture goal and moved me one small step closer to my athletic potential. And ultimately, it is my untapped potential that keeps me motivated, consistent and dedicated.
I often ask my coach, Paul Cross, what we could do differently to improve my performance. We tackle the issue from all angles and this year we have added a number of new approaches. We’ve experimented with strategies to improve my run, my nutrition, my explosive power and strength, and my equipment and stride. When we are gearing up for a race, I always get the same reminder from him: “This week is no time for games.” In other words, stay dedicated to the program and consistent with the training plan. We both know I will not become a sub 1:20 half marathoner or a 55-minute 4 km Ironman swimmer overnight, but every day is another opportunity to improve on what I did yesterday and to prepare myself for my race day goal.
It is just a few more weeks until my second Ironman of the year, on home turf, at Ironman Canada. It’s an event that I love because of its location (Penticton, BC) and the course. The course suits my strengths and my preference of racing in a lake with a hilly bike loop and a glorious out-and-back run course. My mom, sister-in-law and “mother-in-law” are coming to watch. My mother is a veteran Ironman spectator (god bless her) so she will have the pleasure of shepherding Caroline and Elisabeth around 140.2 miles of water and road for some 10-plus hours. Countless friends will be racing alongside me, all of whom were also diligent in their training and committed to their goals. I commend and thank them because, together, we enhance each other’s experience and spend long hours training together in hopes of getting to the same start line fit, fresh, focused and committed to the effort ahead.
So when I read about people like Paula or Ryan, or see performances first-hand like Heather’s, or interact with the businessman or woman or with the mother of four who just ran a 3:45 marathon, I applaud each and every one of them for their effort, their dedication, and their achievements. I think these people followed a process to get to where they are today, just like me. They trusted, put in the hours, followed a program, rested and believed in themselves and tapped into their potential as athletes and humans.
Christine
