I is for inspiration

In triathlon there are days of utter exhaustion and utter disappointment. This ranges from the pros to the amateur weekend warrior. It’s during these times that it’s hard to get up for that next workout or train hard for the next race. You just don’t feel like it and you just want to sit on the couch and eat that long-awaited Blue Bell Ice Cream. What you are looking for is inspiration. Where will it come from and where will it take you? The main thing is to get back on your feet, go back to the next training session and focus on the next race. Inspiration can come from within, from a family member, from a famous story of another triathlete who has overcome incredible obstacles, or perhaps just watching a replay of the world championships. Wherever it comes from, find it, take advantage of it, remember it, because you may need it again.

From inside:

The greatest reservoir of inspiration has to come from within. You have to be autonomous and find inspiration in yourself. I think the best way for this to happen is to look back on my goals. These goals were made at a time when I was feeling good and at a time when I was hopeful. Maybe the season hasn’t started the way I wanted it to, or maybe my training is struggling right now, or maybe I’m completely tired, but those goals can help inspire me to keep going. I have to remind myself that if I relax now, those goals will get further and further away from being a reality. They will be a distant memory rather than a future reality. I understand that I have to keep going to reach those goals. I also know that one day I don’t want to look back and say “what if I had kept going, could I have achieved my goals?” I want to be able to say that I gave it my all.

A member of the family:

My wife and children are a great motivation and inspiration for me. I love that they are proud of my experience and work in triathlon. At the Beach to Battleship Ironman race last year, there was no better feeling than ending up with my family right there to greet me at the finish line. One of my inspirations is not to let my family down. I know my family will love me whether I win, lose or tie my triathlon race, but I love making them proud. I am inspired by my family. They often give me words of inspiration and cheer me up every time I struggle, so it’s always a blessing.

From a famous story by another triathlete:

I have been inspired by at least two amazing triathlete stories. One of them is Scott Rigby. Scott has no legacy. I first met Scott at an olympic distance triathlon in Rome, Georgia, in 2012. His transition area was close to mine. This guy, with no legs, swam the same distance as me, biked the same distance as me, and ran the same distance as me. He was quick and was smiling the whole way. I later saw Scott at the Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii on his TV broadcast. I was like “I ran with that guy!” I remember I did pass him on the bike and I said, “you are an inspiration.” Whenever I get down about my training or racing, I think of Scott and he inspires me.

The other inspiring story is the story of Team Hoyt. This father and son team is absolutely amazing. The son has a disability here, he can’t run or talk. He can communicate through a computer. The son wanted to run a 5K to benefit a kid at his school. The father devised a way to run with the boy’s wheelchair. This began an epic adventure of them running marathons and doing triathlons. Team Hoyt finished the world championship in Hawaii. The father took the son in a small inflatable boat all the way and he still had an amazing marathon time! Those guys always inspire me!

There are countless other inspiring stories I come across that help inspire me to work harder, run harder, and keep going.

Watching a replay of the World Championships:

Last year, when I was tired from all the training leading up to my ironman distance race at Beach to Battleship, I was a bit bummed out after a not-so-great week of training. I wasn’t running well, biking well, or swimming well. I was just resigning myself to the fact that I probably wasn’t going to do as well as I had hoped in the race. Frankly, I wanted to quit if I hadn’t already invested the money in the race and the hotel. Then I sat down and found footage from the Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii from a year earlier. The year didn’t really matter at all. I watched the hour long show and was inspired by the video montages and powerful music. I did it again the next day, ready to continue my search.

Someday you will hit a wall! It will be painful and you will want to quit. You’ll need some inspiration…find it…capture it…and keep going!