The True Benefits

To be at the top of our game mentally and physically I believe it is essential to challenge ourselves physically. I believe the best way of doing this is through competition. Preparing for competition accomplishes many things. It gives us a goal, demands that we be organized, disciplined and follow a plan.
As a word of caution, I would add that too many people equate athletic success with trophies, medals and age group victories. Those 'successes' are superficial and temporary. The real,deeper benefits are described below by the Australian athlete/coach/philosopher Percy Cerutty:


 "Perhaps the greatest success is found when we achieve victory over ourselves. And that, perhaps, is the greatest reward that can be obtained from participation in athletics and sport, generally--the victory over our own nature, our  weaknesses, our tendency, perhaps, to rush to alibis, palliatives, and excuses, rather than to admit our moments of weakness: of capitulation(surrender). So we come to the realization that the qualitative factor in success is purely personal, and that it is not something that can be measured only by the distance ran, the time recorded, the weight lifted or thrown, the height jumped, or the victories achieved over others. In this way success is subjective although the aims and ambitions may appear purely objective."

I have read the above quote many times and I'm always amazed by the truth and depth of his words.

If you haven't as yet committed to an athletic goal that includes some form of competition I would encourage you to do so today, on this, the first day of the week.
It has the potential to be life changing.

45 minutes easy running in the woods with stretching and walking after.

How was your day?