My ex competed for a slot on the U.S. Short Course Duathlon team last weekend. He has made the team the last several years and enjoys traveling to represent the U.S. in the world championship races each fall. This year, if he made the team, he would be traveling to France.
The morning of the race he woke vomiting, probably with food poisoning from fish the night before. My ex couldn’t keep anything down, including water which would make racing in 90-degree heat for a slot on the U.S. team close to impossible. But he decided to try.
My ex was able to keep Gatorade down at the one mile aid stop so he decided to continue. He formed a plan to race unless he vomited again. Making it three miles, he felt he would be able to complete the race, but he started to feel sorry for himself. He had traveled to Arizona for the race, always made the team each year, and felt he had little chance to qualify for the 2012 team in his condition.
Still feeling down about his performance so far, a man came up beside him on the run. It was someone who has also made the U.S. team the last several years. A conversation began between the two of them.
Competitor: “It looks like we are both about 12 minutes off our race time from last year. I know what my excuse is. What’s yours?”
Ex:“I woke up sick this morning. I have been throwing up everything, including water. What’s going on with you?”
Competitor: “I had cancer over the winter. It affected my training.”
When telling me this story, my ex told me he immediately stopped feeling sorry for himself and rationalizing a potential loss. The two of them pushed each other to the finish and were able to both qualify for the team.
This man and his inspirational story helped my ex dig deep and find a bit more energy to push himself to the finish line. It also helped me register for this yesterday:
Last year my excuse for dropping out of multi-sport racing was being a single, working mom in photography school. So far this year the excuse has been work. I decided yesterday it is time to stop making excuses.
What excuses have you been making in your life?
Maybe today is your day to stop making excuses too.
WOW, that was so inspiring. Thanks for putting things in perspective and reminding me to get off my lazy ass and go to the gym even when I make up lame excuses.
It lit a fire under me too Deb!
Very inspiring. I have been doing my best to cut through the excuses for the first time in my life. Can’t say I’m there 100% but it is helping. Great story!
Good luck with your new approach to reducing the excuses. Today was Day 1 of my training and I did actually get out for a run. One bite at a time~that’s how I am tackling this.
Great story. We all just have to keep on keeping on.
I agree! Thank you for visiting Denise.
I have the most amazing sister. Write on Kelly, your words are moving!
Thank you! So happy to see you were visiting sis. Love you!
Very inspiring. Laziness has always been my excuse of choice, I guess being tired of avoiding the mirror is what finally motivated me to get back into a gym two weeks ago. It’s been working so far. I wish you all the best on your upcoming race.
Whatever got you to the gym–that’s all that matters, right?
Wow. Not sure if there’s anything I wanted to do but didn’t. Oh snap! Wait, yeah… I went to clown school for years dreaming of the Cirque du Soleil. Then I moved to the States. Do you know Americans not only fear but hate clowns even more than the dentist? Yeah. I not only wanted to be but trained to be a clown. The training is harder than anything I’ve ever done, even harder than therapy! I guess the ol’ “I’d never be good enough or strong enough” is the nagging voice in my ear. I don’t know if it’s a dream I want to drop or if it’s a dream that’s just wonderful as it is: a dream. Imagine, ME in the Cirque du Soleil spotlight!
If there was anyone I know who could just decide to be part of Cirque du Soleil, it would be you!! With the life you have led so far, you are the only one who could make that a reality.
Woah, talk about a kick in the pants to get you moving onward and upward! Glad your ex saw the moment as inspiration and dug deep. That’s awesome! And good for you for putting your own goals back in focus. You WILL be competing. I have no doubt!
Thanks Random Girl. I have been enjoying starting to train this week.
Perspective. I have no excuse. No good one, anyway. Wow.
Well hopefully this story can light a fire under you too Joe.