Where's the wall!

So I finally got my first open water swim under my belt! It's a little different than being in the pool. Scratch that it's a LOT different. There's no wall every twenty five yards to push off and you can't just stand up if you get tired. It's a pretty interesting feeling when you start to get away from the shore a little bit. Even though I was swimming with a partner it was really lonely. You get to a point where you realize that you are a good distance from the shore and if something where to happen there's no real way out. There's no guarantee that the person with me would even hear me if I were in destress. Then you start to feel tired but you realize that you have to push on and go farther. And then the inevitable happens, the wind starts to blow. And of course its a head wind. So what can you do.....you have to push on. One stoke after the next. It's a real mental test.

Being in the water is like a proving ground for me. There's no easy way out. I take all the training and put it to practical use when I'm in the open water. There's only one option and that is to keep swimming. Then a half mile later I'm done. I get to stand up out of the water and know that I accomplished my goal. I did it. No one else did it for me. That's a good feeling. That's the kind of feeling that makes me want to keep going, to keep pushing on.

All I have to do now is do it again! I'll be back in the water soon and hopefully better than ever!



On a totally unrelated note .... if you need a good chuckle check this video out. My roommate really lovers her some Jimmy Johns. Laughing is a great therapy for whatever ales you!

Are you motivated??

So i finally did it. I swam a mile today. Granted it was in the pool but I did it none the less. 70 lengths gets a little monotonous. Gives you lots of time to think about why you shouldn't be in the pool for that long. Gives doubt a lot of time to creep into your ever weakening mind. It allows you to think of all the excuses for why you should just get out of the pool and do it another day. I mean you'll always have tomorrow, right? Really makes you wonder what must go through someones mind while they are swimming a triathlon and still have a bike ride and run to look forward to.

This is when you have to make a decision, do you take control over your brain that is wandering into all kinds of ugly places or do you let it take control of you? Tonight I made the decision to beat back all those ugly thoughts and push on. Believe me, for a while I wanted out of that pool in a bad way. But let me tell you....when you finally finish it's all worth it. Kind of makes you want to throw your hands up and proclaim "I WIN!" Feels like people should be raising babies and throwing soft cheeses! Go Alphonse Go!

It takes a certain amount of motivation to overcome these sorts of things. I wish I could say I just look deep inside and find all the motivation I need but that's not the way it works! Don't get me wrong....we all have "it" inside of us. But sometimes it takes a little push from an outside force to help see us through. To help us find that "it" that is buried deep within us. So you have to find what motivates you. Find that song, or video, or person that makes you want to push just a little harder. Latch on to that and let it help you to the finish because there wont always be a tomorrow. Remember to be great today so you don't regret yesterday, tomorrow!

There really are only two types of people in this world. Those that say "I can" and those that say "I can't". I CAN do it! Can you? Challenge yourself to get motivated today. Do something, whatever it is. It may be at work, at school, in the gym, on a bike, or in a pool. Just find what motivates you and go for it....it's all worth it once you cross that finish line!

Need some motivation? Check these out!

Inspirational Nike Ad
Iron Man Video

Have some motivation you would like to share? Leave it in a comment.