We are all athletes - each of us who runs, walks, swims, skates, cycles, rows, skis, bowls, hits, kicks, lifts or flips, and scores.
And the word athlete does have a romantic, albeit humble, origin. It is through this humility that true athleticism can touch all.
As athletes of various shapes, sizes, speeds and specialities, we all compete for prizes and, in one sense, perhaps an ultimate prize.
As we grow and evolve as athletes we learn that the prizes we compete for are no longer caught up in podiums and places; nor times and trophies; nor medals and muscles; nor ribbons, and ranting and raving.
It is in the afterglow of competition and achievement, and on the reflection of a journey that started well before the starting line - somewhere way back with the courage to say I can and will do this - and on the journey, one step after another, km after km, week after week, year after year - amongst angst, sweat, joy and tears - we discover those prizes.
Those prizes come from the battle within - testing, probing and challenging your limits; getting up when you fall down; going again, and again; trekking a new path; saying no to the little voice inside; showing the nay-sayers - going where you've never been before, learning about yourself and, when the time calls, leaving that self behind. That is the ultimate score.
Those prizes come from the battle within - testing, probing and challenging your limits; getting up when you fall down; going again, and again; trekking a new path; saying no to the little voice inside; showing the nay-sayers - going where you've never been before, learning about yourself and, when the time calls, leaving that self behind. That is the ultimate score.
If competition is the basis for athleticism, we may ask the question 'what is competition?' Competition isn't solely competing for places, podiums, or prizes against others. It is you and I competing with, around and beside others, and at time against others - striving toward the same ends, striving together.
Competition comes from Latin 'competere', made up of com- (coming together) and -petere (to strive).
As athletes we strive together; we strive, not in rivalry or opposition, but as a community.
These athletes, these competitors are the people I coach.
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