Let It Out

INCIDENT:
As a continuation of my post on Olympic fever, an appropriately timed release of Kleenex's 40-minute documentary on US athletes and the fans they inspired does just the trick to get right to the core of the Olympic spirit.

Here is the trailer for the film:



Go to the Let It Out website to view the full documentary.

MORAL:
At the core of the Olympics is the promise of humanity. You are compelled to rally behind the pursuits of others as they test the limits of human capacity. The Olympics is not only a time of peace (theoretically) but it is also a time when differences are put aside to celebrate the human race. If only we could only bottle the Olympic spirit or learn to translate that spirit to our everyday... if only.

Has the Olympics inspired you? How can we live the spirit of the Olympics everyday? Let's try.

Olympic Fever!

INCIDENT:
We are currently at the beginning of the Games of the XXIX Olympiad in Beijing China. So much press has been given to these games before they even started on August 08 2008. And while the human rights violations and the role of China in several humanitarian crises cannot (and should not) be ignored, the Olympics should really focus on athletic skill and the competitive spirit.

If you have ever worked towards an athletic goal such as running a marathon or competing with a local intramural soccer team, then you have just a taste of what these athletes strive towards... what they live and breath for for the four (or more) years leading up to an Olympics. It takes incredible devotion and even more sacrifice. And if you ever dedicated your time and energies towards something personally important, then you have an idea about what it means to be an Olympian.

The Olympics are not only for the athletes but is equally for every country's people. There is a sense of national pride during the Olympics. But at the same time there is a sense of camaraderie between countries and athletes. If only the spirit of the Olympics could continue past the 16 days of the XXIX Olympiad.

MORAL:
I have Olympic fever! The only thing that I watch is Olympic coverage on television. Handball, trap shooting, fencing, water polo... I watch it all. I love seeing the fans in the stands waving their flags, yelling at the top of their lungs, and supporting their teams. I love seeing countries win their first Olympic medals... ever. Or seeing when the athletes march in the opening ceremonies filled with pride.

The best part of the Olympics for me is that for 16 days every two years I believe I can live out my Olympic dream. As delusional as that thought may be, during the Olympics I can dream... and dream big!

UPDATE (08/13/08): I just read this quote from Dominque Dawes, who is serving as a commentator at the Olympics, about the US silver medal win in women's Team Gymnastics. I think it sums up my point quite nicely.

"I experienced Opening Ceremonies for the first time this year," Dawes said. "And what I took away is, the Olympics is not about one athlete or one moment. It is about the team and world and the impact these athletes make on the world. No matter how well they perform." -- from ESPN.com, "Team final result should not define Sacramone" By Alyssa Roenigk

I Want to Be Natascha Badmann

INCIDENT:
Natasha Badmann is amazing. She is a six time Ironman World Champion. She has a great passion for the sport and she has the most positive attitude... not to mention her incredible sportsmanship.

At talk given by Desiree Ficker, another Ironman triathlete, Desiree talked about the 2006 Ironman World Championships. It was her first World Championship and somehow she found herself passing Natasha Badmann. This is a moment dreams are made of... and what do you think was Natasha's reaction? She encouraged Desiree. She kept telling her "Good job." Now that's the reaction of a real champion.

So you can imagine that this year's Ironman World Championship would be no different. For some reason the 2007 World Championships were extra crazy with a couple of the former champions coming down with stomach viruses... and then there was this strange circumstance with Natasha. So a couple of miles into the bike Natasha was in an accident. She was pretty badly hurt and bleeding. Her bike was totaled. Natasha shook it off after about 30 minutes of trying to recover. With her arm in a sling, they helped her onto a new bike and she was off. After about 30 miles, the pain was so excruciating that her coach and partner advised her to quit. She put up a fight but in the end decided that her coach knew what he was talking about... and it turns out he did, because Natasha had a broken rib and a broken collar bone as well as tendon damage in her shoulders and severe skin injuries. She has undergone two surgeries since the race to repair the damage from the accident especially the heavy damage to the tendons in her shoulders.

MORAL:
I want to be her. When you see the determination and courage of certain individuals in times of great adversity, you have to be inspired. Just to know that people like this exist in the world gives me hope. Whenever I feel like I cannot give any more, I think of people like Natasha... people who dig deep and find great strength. Because the moment that you give up is also the moment that you never realize how strong you really are.

US Men's Olympic Marathon Trials

INCIDENT:
The US Men's Olympic Marathon Trials were held in New York City on Saturday November 02 2007. Most of the American elite marathoners were there. It was quite a field. The race started at 7:30A near the cathedral and then looped through Central Park several times. It was a very spectator-friendly course. Spectators were able to see the runners about 10 times during the race. And there definitely was a great turn out of spectators including a group of crazy bare chested guys with letters painted on their chests to spell "SELL" (Brian Sell was one of the crowd favorites). Yeah. We were at a road race and there were guys jumping up and down in 40 degree weather with their shirts off as if we were at a football game. It was crazy. But this is the nature of the running community. They are just as passionate about supporting the sport as they are about participating in it.

Brian Sell with fans before the start of the race (Photo credit: Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images)

It was a great race. There were two main lead packs and the runners changed places often within and between the packs. For such an intense race and distance, it was a nail biter until the end. In this amazing field of runners, emerged a new group of Olympic hopefuls.

2008 US Olympic Marathon Team -- Ryan Hall, Dathan Ritzenhein, and Brian Sell (Photo Credit: Chris McGrath/Getty Images)

It was a day of great triumphs but also of great tragedy. As we walked from the start of the race to about East 79th Street, there was a runner down on the course. We stopped for a second to see what was going on thinking that someone might have sprained an ankle or something... but there were the medics administering CPR. It was not a good sign. We could not see who it was but we did not want to stick around. We were worried but knew that the runner was in good hands. It was only later that we found out that the runner was Ryan Shay (he was the 2003 US Marathon Champion) and that he passed away after he was brought to the hospital. It is a huge loss to the running community. My deepest sympathies to his wife and family.

Ryan Shay leads during the 10,000m at the 2002 USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships (Photo credit: Alison Wade, New York Road Runners)

MORAL:

There is a simple message here. Live and love life to its fullest. There will be great highs and lows, but never take life for granted.

Unbelievable

INCIDENT:
Sunday was the 30th Anniversary of the Chicago Marathon. And on race day there was the worst weather in its history - 88 degrees with severe humidity. Of the around 45,000 registered runners, 10,000 people decided not to participate because of the heat while another 10,000 or so did not even complete the race either because of the heat or because the race course was closed early. There was one reported death during the race (though it was later found during the autopsy that he had a heart problem). And to top it all off there were water shortages and a couple hundred people needing medical attention or hospitalization. It was an epic race.

So with any unbelievable circumstances, you would expect nothing less from those who somehow finished the race. You must check out both the men's and women's finishes as you ponder to yourself how on earth anyone could have anything left at the end of a 26.2 mile race given the weather. What you are watching has be something greater... and if you know how to summon it on will, please please let me know.

Men's Finish - 2007 Chicago Marathon

Women's Finish - 2007 Chicago Marathon

MORAL:
There are moments that you witness that you just know are really special. To be able to reach deep within to find the strength to hold on despite circumstances working against you... that is humanity. And if you are lucky enough to experience it firsthand, hold on to it no matter what. It is sometimes more elusive then we would like...

Anyone can give up, it's the easiest thing in the world to do. But to hold it together when everyone else would understand if you fell apart, that's true strength. -- Author Unknown

Sore and really sore

INCIDENT:
It has been two months since I moved and during that time I didn't workout once. Considering that my routine is all out of whack and I can't seem to find any stability in my schedule, I thought that I should start by working out again. While searching for a gym with heavy bags (there are none), I stumbled upon a small boxing gym. While I am not too hot on the name, I am in quite a bit of pain, which means that it's working. They say in boxing that pain is weakness leaving the body. And apparently I have a lot of weaknesses to let go.

MORAL:
I have been trying to restore aspects of my life here that were part of my daily routine back in SD. It makes the move a bit easier when I feel like there is still some consistencies and everything is not completely novel. It is very easy to fall into a funk, but by reintroducing some regularities into my life perhaps I can be less preoccupied with the way things were and focus more on what they could be.

"You are an Ironman"

INCIDENT:
This morning 2086 people started a 140.6 mile journey that would take them across a lake, over desert land, and along waterways. The fact that almost 60% of these people had made this journey in the past is pretty amazing. Among them 7 men and women who were over 70 years old. Another amazing factoid is that a little over 40% of those people would be making this journey for the first time. Most having trained rigorously for a year.

MORAL:
What makes one start such an epic journey? What drives one to attain an almost super human goal? Aside from determination, fitness, and dedication, what it takes is heart.

The strength of the human spirit was evident this morning and I was really lucky to witness it first hand at Ironman Arizona. There were participants that looked like your typical athletes - thin, low body fat, long legs, etc. And then there were others that had I seen them on any other day I would have not even imagined that they could be an Ironman. But by the end of the day many proved that they were...

When you cross the finish line, they call out your name and say "You are an Ironman!" It is a phrase that is not treated lightly. It is a phrase some people wait 17 hours to hear. To be an Ironman means to have accomplished a goal not many will or can accomplish. It means that you managed to find some sort of balance between life and the ambition to finish. It means that you stuck to the training with a decisive will even when you did not think you could push yourself any further.

To be an Ironman means risking failure and finding that you hold the courage, strength, and faith to succeed.

"Only those who risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go." - T.S. Eliot

Runner's High

INCIDENT:
On Sunday I ran a 5K. The third 5K race of my life. I am not much of a runner but in the past year I have taken up running for fitness and to see what all the fuss is about. Seriously running doesn't really sound like a fun time to me, but I am a competitive person. If I make something a competition or a battle of hardcore-ness I can probably convince myself to do anything. It is an awesome motivator.

Sunday it was drizzling all morning and it was cold. I felt like I wanted to quit after 1.5 miles but I hate losing face in front of others. I pressed on. Then at about the 2 mile mark I finally had that vague feeling that people refer to as the runner's high. All this time I have been running I never experienced it, but for some reason during this race it kicked in. I felt great and I even stepped it up a notch. I had a personal best for the race.

MORAL:
I am proud of myself. Although I am not setting any course records, I really felt great after this race. I never thought I would be a runner and I certainly didn't think that I would enjoy running. But here I am looking forward to the next race and wondering what else I can accomplish that I never thought I could.

“Life's real failure is when you do not realize how close you were to success when you gave up.” - unknown

Smashing the Competition

INCIDENT:
This evening I went to see Chris McCormack speak to a crowd of aspiring triathletes. McCormack, or Macca as he is known in the triathlon world, is a professional triathlete who has won the triathlon world championships in the Olympic distance. He now focuses his energies on the longer distance ironman triathlons. Somehow these past several years the Ironman World Chamionship has eluded him.

MORAL:
There is nothing more humbling than being reminded of our weaknesses. Macca openly admits there have been many times that he was over confident and this confidence was ultimately his downfall. But the challenge keeps him coming back year after year. If we are not challenged by our pursuits then why pour our hearts into them? It is in the challenge that we find meaning.