Don't Quit!

I have been reading a book called "Born to Perform" Gerard Hartmann, great book but yesterday I read this poem he had included in the chapter I was reading. I really liked it.
I was prompted last night to pick up the book "Touch the top of the world" Erik Weihenmayer, I had read it before but a long time ago. I was paging through it and than a page jumped out at me. What was it...the same poem I had read earlier. Was to good and to 'God' lead not to share! here you go........

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,

When the road you're trudging seems all uphill,

When the funds are low and the debts are high,

And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,

When care is pressing you down a bit-

Rest if you must, but don't you quit.Life is queer with its twists and turns,

As every one of us sometimes learns,

And many a fellow turns about

When he might have won had he stuck it out.

Don't give up though the pace seems slow -

You may succeed with another blow.Often the goal is nearer than

It seems to a faint and faltering man;

Often the struggler has given up

Whe he might have captured the victor's cup;

And he learned too late when the night came down,

How close he was to the golden crown.Success is failure turned inside out -

The silver tint in the clouds of doubt,

And you never can tell how close you are,

It might be near when it seems afar;

So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit -

It's when things seem worst that you must not quit.

Baby steps, 30seconds faster closer to a dream

There are times in life when we feel we work so hard at stuff but never see results no matter how small and in that moment we can either decide to give up or keep going. Let me give a small story to encourage you to keep going no matter what.

If you are reading this you will know I am training for a triathlon, you might also know that this comes with just slightly more effort because of my disability and yes many a times I get very frustrated with my body and would like to just take the dream of competing in a triathlon and put it back on the shelf. Yet if you do know me personally you would know that I have three words that stand out in my life. HOPE, COURAGE and DETERMINATION.

I had my weekly gym session with Greg yesterday. Two little things we both were amazed at were my walking speed had increased and one of the core exercises we have been doing for ever suddenly took on a different form. Now how did that happen?

There is a 140metre track at the gym so two weeks ago it took me 3minutes to get round, yesterday 2,30 minutes to get round, Greg found that my steps had become shorter which in turn increased my stability to walk faster. Usually I would take long/wide steps but somewhere in the past two weeks this changed. (No idea this happens but Greg noticed).

We usually do a lot of core body stuff, and the one is lie on my back and then lift my legs towards my stomach and hold there for 30 seconds. (try it and you will see what I am talking about). We have done this a lot and in general it is a mission and my legs are unstable sway from side and don’t want to stay up etc. Anyway yesterday we did it and was like nothing ever before, the legs came up they stayed put and Greg and I were in shock J J, so we did the exercise again and once again, the legs came up  and stayed put. At times I wish I could take pictures of our faces when little things like this happen because they would be absolutely memorable.

You see small little things like this are very encouraging for me and Greg because it means something is working in what we are all together doing.

It means one more baby step closer to the dream, that baby step is closer than the day before, and that’s my point you will always be one baby step closer to your dream than the day before do not dismiss the baby step no matter how small. Those changes we saw yesterday have encourage me to keep working towards my goal.

106 days to go!

109 days and hanging out in the deep end of it all!

“Your body will argue that there is no justifiable reason to continue. Your only recourse is to call on your spirit, which fortunately functions independently of logic.” 
― Tim Noakes

Pulling up to the pool today I saw a few more extra cars than usual, I have to admit swimming in a crowd is no fun and at this point meeting new crazy triathlete’s is a small bit scary.

We all know by now I am the only disabled athlete in this club so I practice with the big guns when it comes to swimming, and remind myself that I am in a different league all together J!

Today was or seemed to be one of the harder days in the pool and just felt I could not keep up. Here is the thing, I keep telling myself I don’t have to keep up but in the back of my mind I still try, so after about 1.6km Luke (swimming coach) says that’s it for today, and then says to me “I love swimmers like you, you don’t complain you just dive in and swim what I tell you even though I have thrown you into the deep end in this group”

So my first real week of training past last week, and as of today its 109 days till the first triathlon I get to compete in, and ahead for the next 109 days is some serious hard work.

My schedule has slightly changed.....up at 4h30am in bed by 8h30pm. On some days we have two training sessions, ie swim or run, swim or gym and bicycle.

Till next time or let’s say till tomorrow!

THISABILITY - The Power Of The Soul

I was given this newpaper this morning at a course I am attending on Disability and Social Inclusion. The Newspaper is called "This Ability" which is a disability awareness newspaper. And I turn to the back page and I realise I am on it!  see link THISABILITY - The Power Of The Soul

Thank you to my company CBM International (Southern 

Africa Office) for sponsoring me some money towards my 

training.

Check out our website to find out more about what CBM 

does.  www.cbm.org 

Persevere – relentlessly

5 June 2013

“People of mediocre ability sometimes achieve outstanding success because they don’t know when to quit. Most men succeed because they are determined to.” ~ George E. Allen

I had a training session at gym today with Greg (Biokentikist). Today’s focus was on...legs, basically tackling the big questions – How do I do the 5km run, but Greg is good and has focus and comes across as a problem solver, which for me is an added bonus.

He is also a drill sergeant and continues to tell me when I walk........KNEES UP, LEGS UP, FEET UP AND STRAIGHT LINES...DON'T NOT CHEAT I AM WATCHING YOU

I need to always remind myself of why am I doing this but I have started with the knowledge that I am going to do this and nothing will stop me J

Mid Mar Mile and nearly half way back

4th June 2013

That’s what I swam today, 2.6km, and as Luke said ‘I am just throwing you in the deep end, you will soon catch on and up.’ and then he continues “so next set please swim 4 sets of 400m with 15 seconds break in between each set”

My mind still thinks in lengths of the pool, so I was trying to figure out how many lengths that is, he obviously picked this up on my face and said “that’s 16 lengths per set, so by the time you have done the 4 sets of 400 you would have swam your mid mar mile so better get going”

One thing I did not say in the beginning before this set I had already swam 600 meter warm up and 200 meter technical stroke stuff, but it’s all good and enjoying it so off I went.........because this is what it’s about, going further than before.1600 meters later, 4 sets x 400 meters and my arms are burning. I rest for a few seconds. Luke says “well done, now do 200 meters cool down and you are done for today”

I pull myself out the pool, there are no stairs, so I act like a beached whale first then turn around and push myself up and there we go, standing out the pool. I dry off put jacket on, go out into the freezing cold to drive home, jump in shower, get in car drive to work and realise I have been awake for 3h30 hours I have swam 2,6km and its only 8am.I remind myself this is all worth it and having the opportunity to pursue a dream of being an athlete is and will come to life.

I know and realise that pursuing a dream comes with hard work, courage, determination and a tenacity that no matter what is going on around me, inside me and my body I need to keep on keeping on, and soon we will be doing mid mar mile twice in one morning!

Always remember, whatever the goal--keep your eye on it