It takes a village
There's an african proverb that says "it takes a village to raise a child." As an athelete and more importantly, as a human being, I'd take that a step further and just say that "it takes a village."
At what point did we grow up so big and strong that we ceased to need each other anymore?
I am an athlete, which means that I think I'm strong or at least capable of being so. And while that might be true (time will tell) it helps to know that I can be even stronger with a little help from my friends.
I got an email from my Running Room coach today, asking how things were going. I excitedly explained all the specialists I had helping me with my back and how fast I was recovering and maybe I'll even do the Seattle marathon in November. Two months isn't a lot of time, she reminded me. It's better to be healthy.
Oh yeah. Why do I keep forgetting that?
Some people read my blog as it chronicles my way through my various injuries and suggest that I might want to rethink doing Ironman next year. Maybe they're right. I realize that I am frequently injured but sports have always been that way for me. It'd be easy to say that I'm just not built for this and quit. Easy to say but hard to do. I keep trying to explain to everyone why I want to do this and all I can come up with is, "I'm just going to do it."
I know that Ironman is going to be a tough go, if it wasn't, it wouldn't be such a huge accomplishment. I believe I can finish because I'm surrounded by so many fantastic people who I can train with, who will patiently remind me that I'm not invincible and who will help fix me up when I forget.
It takes a village and I'm very fortunate to have one.
At what point did we grow up so big and strong that we ceased to need each other anymore?
I am an athlete, which means that I think I'm strong or at least capable of being so. And while that might be true (time will tell) it helps to know that I can be even stronger with a little help from my friends.
I got an email from my Running Room coach today, asking how things were going. I excitedly explained all the specialists I had helping me with my back and how fast I was recovering and maybe I'll even do the Seattle marathon in November. Two months isn't a lot of time, she reminded me. It's better to be healthy.
Oh yeah. Why do I keep forgetting that?
Some people read my blog as it chronicles my way through my various injuries and suggest that I might want to rethink doing Ironman next year. Maybe they're right. I realize that I am frequently injured but sports have always been that way for me. It'd be easy to say that I'm just not built for this and quit. Easy to say but hard to do. I keep trying to explain to everyone why I want to do this and all I can come up with is, "I'm just going to do it."
I know that Ironman is going to be a tough go, if it wasn't, it wouldn't be such a huge accomplishment. I believe I can finish because I'm surrounded by so many fantastic people who I can train with, who will patiently remind me that I'm not invincible and who will help fix me up when I forget.
It takes a village and I'm very fortunate to have one.
Two are better than one, for their partnership yields this advantage: if one falls, the other can help his companion up again; but woe betide the solitary person who when down has no partner to help him up. And if two lie side by side they keep each other warm; but how can one keep warm by himself? If anyone is alone, an assailant may overpower him, but two can resist; and a cord of three strands is not quickly snapped.
~Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
posted by Jonathan at 7:29 PM
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