Inspirational Challenges

The other day I was reading an article titled How to stay inspired in tough times on the blog willitchangeyou. The article got me thinking about where I have found motivation and inspiration during the times when life has presented challenges to me.

One of the answers to this has been in sport and competition. While life's challenges can be overwhelming because they may present you with a myriad of factors that are out of your control. Competition presents you with an opportunity to operate within a set of parameters that you have more control over. This can be empowering and provide you with the confidence to tackle life's bigger challenges.

I think this is what makes racing (even if it is a small local race) so compelling; the chance to put out your best effort for a small amount of time and achieve a goal. I remember the first time I stood on the podium. It was for a 3rd place finish at Killington, Vermont. Leading up to the race I was really geared up and felt great. I pre-rode the entire course the day before and felt really confident about my ability to do well.

The night before the race there was a deluge. The rain made the course extremely slick with wet roots and grass, and mud like axle grease. The start of the race was an ascent up a paved road followed by a hair-pin turn onto a double track decent, then a hard right into the single track. During the decent I was thrown from my bike. I had been squeezed out by another rider trying to enter the single track. Fortunately the grass I landed on was soft and slick so I just slid across the ground taking out the barriers that were setup for just such an incident.

Every lap was grueling. I slogged through the mud, tires spinning over slick roots, and lung searing while pedaling up fire road climbs that seemed to wind endlessly up the mountain. During each lap I found myself wanting to bail-out. The section leading up to the lap/finish was considerably easier than other parts of the race course. I was kept going by the feeling that it wasn't "that bad" and the cheering spectators at the lap/finish. As I rode back into the single track the cheers faded along with my enthusiasm, but I kept moving and finished the race.

When the race was over I was covered from head to foot with mud. I went back to the hotel to clean up. Afterwards I was going to head straight out for the 5 hour car ride back home, but decided to check the results from the race beforehand. When I walked up to the postings and saw my name next to 3rd I let out a shout of excitement. It was a great feeling only made better by walking onto the stage, stepping up onto the podium, and a kiss from the woman handing out the medals.

It's not Just about racing
This weekend I ran a 5k that I have done for the last three years. It is always around my Birthday and is a self-affirming activity for me.

After the race I saw a few t-shirts that made me think about how a simple activity like running can be inspiring.

One pre-teen girl had a shirt that read "Some Girls Chase Boys - I pass them." Through running this girl was able to transcend the sexist assumption that boys are better, stronger, and faster than girls. (she was faster than most of the boys and also her Dad who ran as well)

Another Girl had a breast cancer awareness shirt on that read "I ran for my Mom." It struck me that if anything can make you feel hopeless, it is having a loved one being sick with a potentially terminal illness. Through events like Run for the Cure and The Livestrong, people can gain some sense of control. These events enable those who engage in them, a feeling that they can make a difference for those affected by an illness.

Please watch this video of Nick Vujicic, an amazing example of believing in yourself, and of not giving up.

Related Posts:

Jungle of Life
Will it Change You