Inspiration?

[jo]

One of the 15 yr old kids that trains at our pool (coached by Libby not me ) just came 2nd in the Qld State School Tri Champs, and 10th overall in his category (Unfortunately for him, his age group is combined 15/16 so he doesn't make the national team) He is stoked with his result and is now looking forward to next year when he'll be 16, and hopefully one of the top contenders. So anyway, I've been telling him to get on this website to access advice from the pros In the meantime that is a long way away for him, and it might be easy to lose focus along the way.

So...being a former top age grouper yourself, (and most of the other people on team tbb) what kind of inspiration and advice would you give a young kid who has his sights set on a future in the sport. What about stories of persevering through adversity in a race and making it through, or maybe just a personal milestone (something maybe along the lines of Doc's story). In other words, what makes you dig deep?

[jo]

BTW this question is for everyone to answer 

[DamienC]

Chrissie nearly drowned in her first triathlon (and had to be rescued), Siri Lindley went from not being able to swim to World no. 1 in about 7years (may have been shorter, not 100% sure), and James used to be slower than me (especially when he was using my old bike)!!!!

"Nothing worth having was achieved without sacrifice."

[rebekahkeat]

I think I did my first triathlon when i was 17 so I am afraid to give too much advice at 16 he is so young still but also shouldnt be afraid of hard work, obviously very talented!I think if someone can harness the talent and keep his head on his shoulders for the next few years he could go great guns.But Unfortauntely for triathletes in Australia the juniors get alot of support , often too much and spoiling them dosnt develop them into monsters like they need to be in the open ranks!..But its  once they get to 2o or so when they really need support and its not usually there, or if it is its the worng advice so often!!
This is when if he is still in the sport an enjoying it, he needs a mentor like Brett.Keep it fun and keep it real!

[Beck]

While I grew up playing sports basically every day of the week, my triathlon background as a child could probably be summed up by- swimming underwater laps in our backyard pool; riding 5km to school; running up and down the basketball/netball court.  Oh yeah, I played catcher in softball for years, so I like to think that the years and years of doing squats played a role in giving me strong legs for the bike.  It wasn't until I was 20 that I started to do triathlons, and by some bizzare twist, I got called up as a reserve to go to Montreal for the age group world champs.  I think I placed 44th or something??  10 years later, I have won 4 ironman titles.  So it just goes to show, persistence and patience and hard work will take you a long way in the sport of triathlon.
Being so young, it would be easier him to get distracted.  Especially when his major goal is a year away.  For us 'older' athletes, we see the year as an opportunity to get stronger.  Perhaps suggest having smaller goal races along the way, to keep the fire inside burning strong.  There is no better motivation than either getting your arsed whipped at a race, or having an unreal race- so it's really a win win situation.
What motivates me?  I feel like there is just the internal motivation to be better than what I was yesterday, and knowing there is still so much more room for improvement.  Being in the camp situation is fantastic as well-  we are surrounded by each other, which is a constant reminder of the job at hand, driving us to excellence.  We are lucky too, because we do have Doc telling it how it is, day in day out.

[StephenBayliss]

I've been thinking about this on my ride just now and I think whatever age you are and for all of us whoever we are.  The motivation is either their or not.  You either want to do it or not.

I think some good advice though is seek out like minded people and the best people in your sport.

[rebekahkeat]

Bayliss...So true..even after 13 years in Triathlon the drive is still there for me..Maybe not quite to the extent as when i was 18 yrs old but you have to love what you do.I still do and cant tink of ever wanting to have a real job!!Once that motivation is gone though, its time to hang up the cossies, bike and the shoes!!

[jo]

beck, there aint nothing wrong swimming underwater laps I know my mini-squad kids (approx age 6-7) cheer when I say "fins on, underwater butterfly streamline" In fact it was this very training that won me my freestyle race in my first swim carnival at Burleigh Heads (grade 3). It was either that, or the fact I saw a crab sitting at the bottom of the pool, and shit myself thinking it was going to swim after me and get my toes  (the pool back then was salt water and was open air, and sits right next to the ocean with waves often crashing over the rock wall) Then there was the time I went to my first district carnival at Palm Beach, and saw everyone in the pool when we arrived. I was dissappointed to think I'd missed the start of the race. Mum was like no, they are just just warming up...so I jumped in and did numerous somersaults  cause that was my warmup hahaha

[doc]

its about  self ,
what you really want , is nothing with out the next thing
what i am pperpared  to do for it .
then how long am i prepared to do that .
once that is established ,
lets say its the wood and kinling for the fire ,
then you got to ignite it with self belief ,
you dont have that , the fire never really starts .
if you got the self belief , then the fire starts,
its small ,
but then you add the next ingredient a slight breeze , that adds the oxygen to the weak fire ,
that comes with the right advisor , who also believes in you ,
as he blows on that fire , its starts to rage ,
and when a fire rages , it can over come nearly any obsticle .

no outside  motivational bullshit ,ever lasts , it sparks people for a while , that dont have the spark of self belief ,
but it dissapates into smoke .
the insperation that is needed  come from with in .
you have it or you dont ,
only a very few  learn to have it over time .

[JamesCunnama]

lets say its the wood and kinling for the fire ,
then you got to ignite it with self belief ,
you dont have that , the fire never really starts .
if you got the self belief , then the fire starts,
its small ,
but then you add the next ingredient a slight breeze , that adds the oxygen to the weak fire ,
that comes with the right advisor , who also believes in you ,
as he blows on that fire , its starts to rage ,
and when a fire rages , it can over come nearly any obsticle

Let me know when I can break out the marshmallows...  

[Beck]

lets say its the wood and kinling for the fire ,
then you got to ignite it with self belief ,
you dont have that , the fire never really starts .
if you got the self belief , then the fire starts,
its small ,
but then you add the next ingredient a slight breeze , that adds the oxygen to the weak fire ,
that comes with the right advisor , who also believes in you ,
as he blows on that fire , its starts to rage ,
and when a fire rages , it can over come nearly any obsticle

Let me know when I can break out the marshmallows...  

hee hee hee hee!!!! funny stuff.
I think the boys must be recovered, cause they've found their sense of humours