Inspired by the Journey

In his first blog for ETB since being name a winner in our Search For The Next ETB Athlete, Jeff Condit, a college student and Triathlete by day,  shares with us  about he’s inspired by the  journey and not necessarily the destination.

Inspired by the Journey

By ETB Athlete Jeff Condit

Most triathletes have been told they’re crazy, especially the ones who flirt with half and full Ironman distance events. In fact, I’m sure any athlete that trains for 15 or more hours a week fields these questions.  They ask us why we do it.  For me, the answer is simple: because its fun.  It’s cliché but some things in life really are more about the journey than the destination. I fell in love with the process of being an endurance athlete for a couple simple reasons.

Inspired by the journey – ETBFit Blog – Sports Nutrition

Dedication to one’s craft revolves around a continual process of improvement.  You are trying to be better than you were yesterday, better than last week or last month, better than last year.  Every day has direction and purpose.  When the goal is so simple it is very easy to achieve.  Setting a new personal best or beating a rival competitor in a big race is fun but nobody gets to race or compete every day.

However, if you maintain that same simple goal for long enough, to become better than you were yesterday, you will eventually pass up the competition.  But let the standard be self -improvement during your journey to become a better athlete and take satisfaction in the small daily victories.

Self-improvement as an athlete also doesn’t have to be limited to your physical abilities.  Any journey is more fun when you don’t have to do it alone.  The relationships you make with fellow athletes, teammates, training partners, and your support crew can help you become a better all around person.

On some level, relationships are based on shared experiences and it’s impossible not to get to know someone when you spend countless hours side by side on the bike, on a run, or in the weight room.  Many of my best friends are people with whom I have gotten lost in the woods on a training run, or stuck in a hailstorm on a long ride.  The fact that we share the simple daily goal of becoming better athletes and can challenge each other to reach that goal while facing the same obstacles makes it much easier to get out of bed before dawn to meet up at the track.  And then at the end of the day, we can share a small success story and laugh together about how much fun the day’s adventure was.

Set a simple goal.  Find a group or an individual and chase that simple goal every day together.  Enjoy the process.

Have no fear – eat the bear!

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