little victories

2004-11-30T20:27:00.000-08:00

pounding each stair one at a time. you count (starting around the fourth one) with the rhythm of your right foot...10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1-0...and by then you're at the top. lactic acid builds up in your legs causing you to feel as if you might just topple over. but then the mind kicks in telling you to keep going. jog across the top row to the adjacent set of stairs...down...back up the next flight. 10-9-8-7-6-5...halfway...4-3-2-1-0. each flight of stairs is separate from the one before and requires the same amount of effort.

its a mental struggle. a battle between you and your physical/mental capacity. 10% physical, 90% mental. every stadium workout is a battle. every crew practice is a battle...to surpass your limitations. will you let yourself sprint up the stairs, or start sprinting and walk for the last few... will you beat yourself up on the erg or ease up a bit, cutting some slack...

its all a representation of yourself...your belief, your confidence, your pride, your determination. its an athletic sport...but more a mental exercise. you feed off your success, your mini-accomplishments. you constantly chip away at goals as you hit the split given by the coach on the erg, lift 5 pounds more on the bench press at 7am, run up 1 more flight of stadium stairs.

no one seems to understand the sport. its all a battle for improvement. everyone should try it.

Sail Away

little victories