John Cutler posted on August 12, 2010 08:39
What drives you as an athlete? When your body and brain are yelling "STOP!", how do you keep moving forward towards the finish line? Or when you are tempted by a free cupcake for the 10th day in a row (what's with the DC cupcake wars?) how do you keep walking?
Finding that source of inspiration is integral to achieving your fitness goals. It isn't just for those painful moments during an event. Waking up at 6AM to run or jumping on the trainer in the basement while the kids are sleeping is tough! Sometimes it just isn't all that fun.
Inspiration is fluid. We might be inspired to cure cancer at a charity ride, but at the same time want to look "good on the beach" come June. Give yourself a break and don't pre-judge what makes you tick. If it works, then it works.
I asked a couple CycleLife staff members about what makes them tick.
Eric Sorensen
I compete to challenge myself and the athletes around me. To ask yourself at the peak of your effort, "Can I do more?" and be brave enough to answer "Yes". There is no greater feeling than to cross the finish line, regardless of one's place, in a crescendo of execution, exhaustion, and elation.
Chris Lipnickey
I honestly don't know what drives me... I have no race on the calendar nor do I plan to have any on the calendar. I guess the 'runners high' is what I enjoy, I like pushing my body with no end goal. It is hard to describe but that's just it. I enjoy the pain.
Colin Shah
At the point in a long, hot race, that may not be going my way I imagine my son waiting for me at the finish line and I try to imagine the conversation where I justify quitting to him. I never can, so I don't ever quit.
Sarah Stanley
What inspires me? Whenever I have a run or ride "from hell" I remind myself to be thankful for having a body that moves. It may be slow (and at times, even painful) but thinking of the men & women who are serving our nation & returning without legs or arms makes me appreciate what I do have.
The next generation also inspires me to keep active and stay healthy. Being a positive example for the kids (and kids at heart) gets me out of bed at the break of dawn!
Another thing that inspires me is to keep training, is knowing that come race day it will be worth it (whether I win or not). Just as with life, it's the tough times that make you strong. Live with passion. Live with purpose. Live inspired!
Elliott Caldwell
I have mutiples sources of inspiration when racing cyclocross. The main one is anger - I transfer all my frustrations about life and what's going on in the world into 45 minutes of pure hell. While it may not seem like the most positive way to approach racing, it keeps me motivated and coming back to the start line week after week every fall.
Abby Rotman
- The sense of achievement that comes with challenging yourself to do something you are not sure you can do, and then actually doing it
- Coming back to CL after a tough workout and getting a Green Monster
- Overcoming mental obstacles and pushing through pain or discomfort
Gonzalo Escobar
For some people it's knowing they are making someone else suffer a little more then they have ever suffered before, for me it's knowing that I've achieved my very best. I regret to admit it that I often feel I haven't done my best. Inspiration is the one piece of talent that separates the average from the above average. I'm still seeking that which drives me to do my very best.
Matt Moore
I don't necessarily train for events but when I'm out on a ride long or short and in the middle of a climb where my legs are burning, I'm beat, and really just want to pull over here's what keeps me going. Knowing that I can. The feeling when I get to the top of that climb and spin out is serene. That and knowing there's a fast downhill waiting helps too. Also ... every ride I do that's one more burrito I can eat!
Niels Knutson
My favorite part about triathlon is the moment when my legs are screaming and every rational thought in my head is telling me to stop. I push through those moments because there's nothing better than the sense of accomplishment you get from looking back and realizing what you can overcome if you set your mind to it.
Josh Frick
I find serenity in beating Willy Walker. Doing so means getting of the couch once in a while, but it's worth it.