Don't waste the opportunity

185 days to race day

"When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, 'I used everything you gave me.' " - Erma Bombeck

 

The other day I was in the locker room after playing some hockey and a friend asked me how my training was going.  I told him it was off to a pretty good start for my bike and swim but I am still dealing with a foot injury and haven’t been able to run.  The guy sitting next to me then said “That’s why I don’t run or anything like that.  Dealing with the injuries and everything just makes it not worth the time.”

As I looked at him and then looked away I shook my head.  There were so many things about his attitude that I take exception to, but 3 things really stood out in my mind:

1.       He was about 40 pounds overweight and was wheezing as he untied his skates.  Yep, nothing that running could help you with there buddy.

2.       He was a goalie.  Goalies are , ummmm, a different breed of people.  They are kind of like the kid in school who seems “special” so you let him into your circle of friends.  Then you come to find out he’s not “special,” he’s just weird.  At this point it’s too late and you end up in the following conversation:  “Hey Chris, you know Willie isn’t really mentally off the way we thought.”  “Yeah, I know but we can’t get rid of him now.  What should we do?”  “I dunno, let’s just slap some pads on him and shoot pucks at his head.”  Next thing you know your dream of making the state high school tournament is riding on the shoulders of some accidental athlete.

3.       The biggest issue I have with his statement is the lack of ownership for his life.  I don’t want to be a victim for the rest of my life because of some minor setback or obstacle that can be overcome.

It is amazing to hear the laundry list of excuses I hear when people find out that I participate in endurance events.  And it’s not like I ask them if they run or bike but for some reason people are quick to volunteer their reasons for not exercising.  I have bad knees/hips/back, I don’t have the time, I can’t afford it, it’s too hot, it’s too cold, it’s too windy, it’s raining, it might snow, there’s too much traffic, there is a civil war in Somalia, etc.

I think what it boils down to is they just don’t do it and they feel guilty so the excuses are just rationalizations for laziness.  I can assure you that every one of the 2500 participants who have signed up for Ironman Lake Placid, myself included, have ran or biked with bodily pain, in the middle of a 55 hour work week between kids soccer practices, in sub-zero temps, in triple digit temps, during a rain shower or thunderstorm and fought rush hour traffic.  Hey, if there really is a civil war in Somalia than I have eked out a workout or two in the middle of that too.

There will never be the perfect time to do anything.  The stars will never align and offer hours of leisure time over the next few weeks with sunny 60 degree temps and a perfectly well healed body.  If something is truly important we will find the time to do it regardless of obstacles.  If it isn’t important then you won’t get it done and that is ok, you just need to be prepared to pay the consequences.  If we’re talking about exercise then maybe that means health issues.  If we’re talking about education then maybe it means you don’t get that big pay raise.  You get the idea.  It brings to mind something my childhood hero, Wayne Gretzky, once said, “Procrastination is one of the most common and deadliest of diseases and its toll on success and happiness is heavy.”

I do not take on endeavors such as triathlons and ultramarathons because I have been blessed with gifts above and beyond most of the other people in this world.  I participate because I have been given the same capabilities but I want to make the most with what I have been given.  I have met way too many Al Bundy’s in this world – those who speak so highly of their past glory days and how great they could be today if circumstances were only different.

I never will fulfill my childhood dream on playing professional hockey.  No amount of hard work could make up for my lack of talent in that area but I can still make sure the days ahead of me will continue to be more successful than those behind me.  Hopefully when my time is up on this earth I will be able to look back and say that I gave life everything I had to give.