Motivation, Inspiration and Perspiration

I haven’t written a post for a while. A disappointing result in both my 3rd Half Marathon and the 10km Bridge to Brisbane left me de-motivated and thinking the whole thing was a waste of time. I ran 62:10 in the Bridge to Brissie which was actually quite an improvement on last year (74minutes) but it was less than my target and I was very unhappy with my effort. I felt like I failed and when I then had to cancel The Big Ride due to my wife’s foot operation, I lost interest in trying to be a distance athlete. So I spent a few weeks exercising only occasionally, eating way too much and drinking bucket loads of alcohol-which reminds me, thanks to everyone who helped me with a most enjoyable ‘lager frenzy’....... Deb’s effort in Charleville stands out.

The problem was that although the diversion was fun, I knew I was committed to riding the 210km Around the Bay in a Day cycle challenge in October with my Brother-in-Law (Doctor Bil) and the day of truth was fast approaching. This long ride was always going to be a huge stretch for me, and I knew I was facing severe embarrassment.

So I sat down and worked out where I was at with The Improbable Dream. I realised I really wanted to be an endurance athlete, I wanted to complete the ride in a reasonable time, I liked the feeling of being fitter than before, and I enjoyed the hours spent training. I realised I was prepared to do what was necessary.

Yep, I re-discovered my motivation.

And I realised, once again, that motivation comes from within. Other don’t motivate us, we motivate ourselves. Motivation speakers etc help us articulate our inner, perhaps undiscovered, reasons for wanting to achieve goals but at the end, they are still our own thoughts and desires. Others can’t motivate us, we do it ourselves.

Other people can inspire us though. And since finding my motivation, I’ve been inspired too. I had a great chat with David, a fabulous bloke who recently rode from the Coast to the Outback and was then generous enough to tell me about his preparation and the actual ride. And it was inspiring to hear firsthand from some-one who had already faced the challenge of a long distance ride. I’m looking forward to going for a training ride with him when I’m next back his way.

I was also inspired during a great coffee with ‘The Savage One’- a sweet-looking but no doubt sadistic personal trainer who would surely take great delight in watching me sweat in pain if I gave her a chance. Instead we had a coffee. Her interest in what I am trying to do and her many insightful questions made me remember how many aspects there are to this journey. And it inspired me to go deeper into my understanding of what’s possible.

With my motivation in place, and feeling inspired by these recent conversations I bought an indoor trainer to help me get my bike fitness to the required level. Who needs The Savage One when I have my own torture rack. End result- Perspiration. Lots of it!

So there it is; Motivation, Inspiration and Perspiration. I love it all but especially, I love being inspired. Thanks to all who inspire me!

More later, journey on
James




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