There's UPS and.......down

     Passing people on your bike on race day is....AMAZING. That word does not describe what one feels while passing other racers. Some days you go out for training runs and you feel your belly button lead your body, legs turning over too quick, no fatigue felt.  Your heart rate can be at 90% of V02 max and you can gut it out for a few minutes. These are small accomplishments one feels as an athlete.

     But let's talk about the other 360 days of the year. Rough........ physically and mentally. After workouts and workouts and workouts it gets rough. You ask a lot from your body and it will do what your mind tells it too. But that is not paying attention to the time after the workouts. I'm not just talking about that protein shake you chug after a workout. I'm talking about dieting and limiting certain activities from your life.

                                     You might be asking "what activities is this guy talking about?"


     It is the summer of 2011. 

 Beach.
 Pretty girls.
 Sexy guys.
 Handball.
 Soccer.
 Volleyball.
 Curvy bodies.
 Six pack abs.
 Drinking.
 Eating hot wings.
 Hanging out at night.
 Enjoying the day with your friends.
 Friends and family take off work.
 Invite you to road trip.

      When you think of summer, those are just some activities that are a must. If you live in NewYork City. These are all fun as hell. Checking your Facebook buddies you will see pictures of the above.
Going back to limiting certain activities, those are a few.

                                  "WHY?! Go have fun Rob!"

     Let me explain a bit. If you play soccer there is a lot of kicking around. People have these huge shin protectors for a reason. Personally I've tried to get away with it and play some soccer and ALWAYS end up getting hurt. Achilles rupture (OUCH!), Calf tear, pulled Hamstring. Try running on a ruptured Achilles is not a good idea. Been there, done that.

                  What about hanging out with my family? Nothing bad in that. Family is first!


      Your cousins call you and ask to hang out with them at the beach. Outside is 95 degrees but with the humidity it feels over 100 degrees.

                                        "No I can't, gotta get my long ride in today"

       The reaction you receive blows your eardrums off. Goes a bit like this

                                                                WHAT!


       You know they have a point. You start thinking "well I can rest today and get my long ride in tomorrow." Your cousins continue to talk and explain how it is too hot to ride and you might "die" out on your ride.

"We will have beer and hot wings, and bro you know the chicks are gonna be everywhere. Afterwards we will get a game of handball. Today won't end, we will have a blast and even make it an all nighter. Come on bro, head out and meet us up"


      All that was mentioned and all you can feel is joy in your heart. But wait!

"If I rest today then tomorrow I will need to get my long ride. But how if I'm gonna hang out all night, and with drinks in me I won't be able to wake up. Ugh. The beach and those girls make for a solid argument. Handball is a blast but it will mess up my arms for week, won't be able to swim as hard."


                            Welcome to my life (triathlete)


        Not just mine but any aspiring athletes. It sucks! Sometimes you want to be "normal". Heck! It's fun to be "normal". This is where the down comes in. It really demotivates me to know that my family and friends are having a great time, relaxing and eating some good wings.

                                  I want us all to see it a different way.

      Let's change the way we think of stuff. Set goals and accomplish them. We are triathletes (or athlete) and we have to accept the fact that we really aren't too normal. I mean we punish our bodies for fun (sounds funny when you say it out loud). It is hard enough to do that well, now imagine doing it with all these summer activities in your head. Btw I am not saying in any way not to do any of those activities. What I AM saying is to focus on your sport or sports. Love what you do. Light up your passion by doing it with a smile. Take the train to the pool at 5 am with a smile on your face. Breathe and just do what you were meant to do. Don't ever stop. Let your passion revolve your life. Let people see your love. People will begin to follow you and will even be inspired by your actions and words.

      So triathletes and athletes let us Light up the world....with our passion.