In 1968 my twin sister, Nancy, and I watched Nancy Greene win a gold medal for Canada at the winter Olympics. I was nine years old and in awe, inspired to compete with the best in the world. I now had a dream, I wanted to go to the Olympics. Naturally athletic my sport of choice was track and field. At ages 18 and 19 I was ranked second in Canada for my event, I was on my way. Got a great coach and trained my ass off. Actually I ignored my body, my intuition and over-trained. I was one of those athletes that never lived up to my potential.
Things every athlete should know
- 1.Don’t over train, listen to your body, it will tell you when you need to rest.
2.Don’t compare yourself with other athletes, those doing more mileage, those that weigh less….
3.Most Olympians take 12- to 13-years of talent development from their introduction to the sport to making an Olympic team. Slow and steady is the journey.
4.Find a mentor, perhaps a retired athlete in your sport. Someone to support you, to nourish you.
5.Sacrifice means you a giving something up, if it is a passionate commitment there is nothing to give up. It is a choice.
6.Do it for you, not your parents, not your coach.
7.Have fun, losing is part of the game. Learn, move on, nobody died.
Life is a sport. These lessons apply as much to training as they do to living.
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