Living out your athletic dreams

Last weekend I had the privilege to attend a USA Track and Field level one coaching certification. Participants included track coaches at every level, trainers, sports performance coaches, and many others of all ages. The level of passion and enthusiasm for excellence in coaching was evident from the detailed discussions of what it takes to achieve athletic excellence.

Something that struck me as ironic, however was the contrast between the coaches attention totheir athletes’ health versus their inattention to their own health status. Several running jokes and self -deprecating remarks centered around the coaches own lack of physical fitness and activity in recent years. For example, several track coaches laughed about the last time they themselves had jumped, squat, or ran any significant distance. Keep in mind this is a group of former high school, and college athletes, many of who probably competed at or close to a national level. While I am sure some of the comments were in jest, I was reminded of a larger pervasive attitude towards health and fitness in society.

Specifically, I am talking about the belief that the pursuit of athletic goals is for the young. You only have to think about the last time you were with a group of friends wistfully remembering their “glory days” of high school football, or pee wee soccer to know what I mean. Groups of adults reminiscing about the good old days when they were at their athletic peak, the possibilities seemed limitless, and that they could conquer the world.

What is it that when we become adults we drop our pursuit of physical goals? Sure adults have responsibilities that children do not: a job or lack of a job, bills, and family. They may see time spent exercising or training too much of a strain on the budget, or simply as a waste of time. They may think they are too far away their goal to ever get there. But surely that does not mean that your only option is to sit on the coach, eating cheetos, while recalling your performance on field day.
Whatever your buried goal is, you can still work on achieving it!

As 2010 approaches, people will make all kinds of new goals, many of them related to health. In fact, two of the five most popular New Years resolutions are getting in shape and eating more healthfully. Those goals are fine, but they aren’t the stuff of childhood dreams, and they probably aren’t exciting enough to help make 2010 the year you can zip up your skinny jeans. Why not make a goal this year to rediscover and live out your own personal athletic dream?

Your dream may only be exciting to you but it should be exciting and it should be a challenge! What was your dream as a child and how can you live it out now? Maybe you’ve always wanted to learn ballroom dancing, or run a 5k? Maybe you finally want to be able to do “real” pushups! I firmly believe that you are never too old to pursue your athletic dreams. Just remember it all starts with an idea!