What's on YOUR plate (part 2 of 2)

I am very literal.  To me, your words mean a lot.  I am a believer in context and the specifics of your content. 
As I have mentioned, I am careful when it comes to relying on quotes.  I want to believe in not only the singular quote, but also the overarching theme and the speaker's values. 
Since high school and even into my years as a coach at UCF, I had a bulletin board up in my room, locker, or office.  (anyone still use bulletin boards anymore?)  I kept a powerful quote on that bulletin board...and well, it is from the Bible, so it's pretty easy to value!
1 Corinthians 10:21

You cannot drink from the cup of the Lord and from the cup of demons, too. You cannot eat at the Lord's Table and at the table of demons, too.

This quote in 1st Corinthians centers around fleeing from idolatry.  You know though - the Bible can be tough to understand!  And I was a 17yr old looking for discipline and reminders to be good and steadfast all the time.  I didn't idolize cross-country, but I did and still do heavily value the sport.  To do well was a healthy desire.  I used this quote to remind me to be a good person all the time everywhere.  I used this quote to not be a hypocrite.  I used it to help me keep choosing the good path.  I used it to remind myself to be a "24-hour-athlete" that was training through the summer and all school season.  I wasn't just showing up for practice day after day. 

First race of 1999 cross-country season (senior Hilary White Spier in black & me in red)

Final race of 1999 cross-country season (sophomore Jill Gerber leading and senior and college teammate Kelly Walker Brasol just behind me)

 

Being a 24hr athlete is another way of understanding the difference between being in 'practice mode' where you're going to practice in the morning or after school and spending an hour or so running versus being in 'training mode'.  Training mode is when you're living the life that supports your goals.  You're not practicing hard, but also sleeping very little.  Those are two very different things to have on your plate that do not support each other.  You're not running intervals hard on Sunday, but keeping your heart rate at 125bpm the rest of the week.  Practice mode is showing up for 2hrs of practice and eating chips for dinner because you didn't feel like making chicken and veggies.  Where do you fall short in training?  What keeps you from being a 24hr athlete?  Do you have too many things on your plate?  Where's your conflict, what's your demon?  Thankfully, my teammates and our coach, Tracey Kuhn, shared the same values and beliefs.  I am so thankful for Ashley, Natalie, Erin, Ali, Marisa, Ashley, Jen, Nicole, Leah, and Coach Tracey Kuhn.

 







What's on YOUR plate? (part 1 of 2)

When I decided to get back to competition, I called a few people I really trusted and who understood what was ahead --the people I considered experienced experts.  Ok, and also the people that I knew would pick up the phone and have this conversation with me.  I also called these two coaches because they knew ME.  I talked to Kevin Jermyn at Duke and Bob Braman at FSU.  In previous blog postings, you may recall I've mentioned both for something else they've helped me with along the way. 

I sat in my apartment in Orlando.  I was at the dining room table, probably taking notes.  I've always liked putting pen to paper.  One thing Kevin said to me really stood out.  He said, "you can have three things on your plate."  He wasn't talking about peas and carrots and chicken or salad and rice and beans.  He was telling me that I needed to focus in on my goals and not have too many things going on at once.  I knew Kevin was right.  I had heard him say this before to athletes at Duke when we coached there together.  I heeded his wisdom and moved to Indianapolis.  I lived there for about a week at which point I realized I had moved to Indiana.  Indiana?  I'm a Florida girl!  At that time I knew I had made a good move.  Over the next few years I was reminded of this good move every time I passed the corn fields.  I was in a place where I'd start fresh and get to really set the stage for concentrated training.  I moved into a situation and created the atmosphere I needed for success.  The three items on my plate were training and competing, a part-time clock-in and clock-out job, and a group of training partners that were like-minded.  I didn't try to make a lot of money with a full-time job, multiple jobs, or side jobs.  That wasn't my goal for this time period.  I didn't try to advance my career by joining local leadership programs, doing networking lunches, or by getting another master's degree.  That wasn't my goal.  I didn't proactively try to meet people that were submersed in the arts, triathlon, managing gyms, or teaching.  That wasn't my goal.  My goal was to fully prepare for each and every practice so I would be prepared to compete each and every time. 

Bob told me the same thing.  He encouraged the part-time job.  Afterall, you can't sit in your room and stare at a wall all day when you have an easy day.  Staring at the wall is also the last thing you want to do when you have a bad day. 
Guess what?  For the four years I lived this way, I PRd each year in each event. 
Who would you call?  How many items do you have on YOUR plate?