"Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them.
It's a great line, given to us by the Bard himself. Shakespeare's greatness was he used the English language as masterfully as any artist ever used paint to create great pictures we could take anywhere, pictures that evoked emotion and thought.
As we near the end of our summer training, standing as we are on the cusp of the new season, it's time to reflect on what we've done and what we might do going forward. Despite the heat and rain, we've gotten some solid training done. We've been challenged also by injuries some brought into the summer, and we have challenges facing others in treatments or surgeries. All can be overcome, but we have to decide to overcome them.
Each of us are tied together by that very thing - we each have challenges. How we deal with them is what defines us. Do we become frustrated and give up? Do we try to face the challenge but lose our way and give up finding alternative solutions? Or do we persevere to the end and overcome? And if we can't overcome a challenge, do we fight on anyway? Do we push as far as we can go even if the ultimate goal is unattainable?
Every one of you girls could give me five reasons at any moment why you shouldn't do your training. Some of those reasons might be legitimate, but the truth is, while we have to deal with those things, we can usually get our training in. It might not be convenient, it might not be easy, but it can usually get done.
Our sport is an endurance sport, not only of the body but of the mind. Our bodies do what our minds tell them to do. If your mind thinks the reward is great enough it is capable of dragging your body through incredible pain and suffering. That's right, your mind drags your body. Your mind tells your body to take that next step, turn that next corner, climb that next hill. Your mind tells you to push harder, longer, and faster. Your mind tells you it's worth it.
Here comes the point...
Some people walk in the first day and they have already mastered their mind game. They were born to do it.
Some people develop the ability along the way. They didn't realize the mind game matters, but once they see the value, they embrace it and work on the game.
Some people are forced to do it because they have no alternative. This is the "failure is not an option" scenario, usually reserved for extreme situations of survival, like being in a plane crash in the Andes Mountains with no food.They survive because they are forced to put their minds in a place where they can focus on what it takes to get through the unimaginable.
Okay coach, that last one was extreme. How do we use that?
Let's say it's Regional, we want to get to Semi-State. You're in the top-7, and you start the race. You are having the race of your life, and you find yourself in the top-10. The team needs you to hold that place if the team is going to advance. You are sore, you are tired, and you want to slow down. Others are counting on you now. It isn't just a personal failure, it's a team failure if you don't hold on. It's bigger than you. Now you have to dig in, and now you have to hurt like never before.
Greatness has been thrust upon you.
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