I’ve learned a lot over the past few years training for triathlons. Possibly the greatest lesson I’ve learned is life is like an endurance sport. The process of everyday life and endurance training are like twin sons of different mothers. They may look different but who they are on the inside is completely the same.
Endurance is about getting to the finish line no matter what. However, endurance is not about getting to the finish line in the best shape of your life in the fastest time possible.
With Endurance Sports…
- The finish line is the celebration of getting to the starting line.
- I get on a weekly training routine. I set goals and train on certain days in specific ways.
- I’m focused on the training plan.
- I prepare today for tomorrow’s training.
- I train in community so that others will push me.
- I know there are going to be days I don’t want to train. So sometimes I rest or modify the training.
- Some days I’m going to be sluggish and tired. I train anyway even, if I know it’s going to hurt. I’ll be glad I did when it’s over.
- I might even get injured, so I have to take a time out and heal so I can come back stronger and more focused.
- Sometimes I have to train while nursing an injury because the race is still on so I need to be able to battle the tough spots.
- There are going to be days when I feel the best I’ve ever felt. When all the training seems to be paying off.
- I will train at my peak performance.
- I will feel like I’m in the best shape of my life.
- However, I’m never in the shape I want to be in. There’s always another mile to conquer.
- I will emotionally go through highs and lows.
- I will train beyond what my mind thinks is possible.
- My attitude changes, my body changes… my character changes.
- I am determined, not driven.
- If I can do it, you can do it… I will never be the fastest, but I’ll have fun in the process.
- The huge win isn’t the race, the win is getting to the race to celebrate all of the time, energy, discipline, great days and bad days of training by crossing the finish line.
With Life…
- Finishing well is the celebration of living life fully alive.
- I get on a weekly routine. I set goals, appointments and time with friends on certain days for specific reasons.
- I’m intentional about being present with whoever is in the room.
- I prepare my mind today for what tomorrow might give me.
- I live within a community of friends I can learn from and who will keep my accountable.
- I know there are going to be days I don’t want to get out of bed. So sometimes I modify my day so that I don’t give up.
- Some days I’m going to be sluggish and tired but I get through my day anyway. It might not be pretty, but I’ll be glad when it’s over.
- I might even get hurt by someone or by my own actions, so I have to take a time out and heal so I can come back stronger and more focused and having learned a lesson or two.
- Sometimes I have to push through life while nursing a broken heart or getting over a loss because life is still happening, so I need to be able to battle the tough spots.
- There are going to be days when I feel the best I’ve ever felt. When all is right in my world.
- I will live every day I can at my fullest.
- I will feel like I’m in the best place of my life.
- However, I’m never in the settled place I really want to be in. There’s always more improvement on me to do.
- I will emotionally go through highs and lows.
- I will dream the impossible, then do the impossible.
- My attitude changes, my body changes… my character changes.
- I am determined, not driven.
- If can do it, you can do it… I am far from perfect, but I’ll give life my best shot.
- The huge win isn’t all about just finishing life, the win is all about enjoying life well, in such a way to celebrate the finer things in life, the good times and the bad, the family time and friend time, a great meal, a beautiful sunset and the perfectly aged wine. It’s about bruises and scars that each have a story of physical accident and recovery or broken heart and healing. It’s about influencing others for good… the good of others and for themselves. It’s about living life, FULLY ALIVE, so that when I get to the end of my life, I will have no regrets and my family and friends will say… He lived life… every ounce of it. He gave it all he had and finished… well.
This is all why life is like an endurance sport. It’s not always easy… and it’s not always hard, but I can wake up knowing what it takes to go the distance… and finish well.
Thoughts?
With Life I…






























03/30/2011
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