a basketball game. But not just any game. That game where something is on the line - an undefeated season, a scoring record, a championship or even just the ability to say you beat a certain opponant. As March Madness is in full swing, basketball movies fill the cable stations and while wathcing "Glory Days" last night, my own childhood glory days quickly fill my mind.
It's 1989 and our 8th grade team has gone undefeated in conference play - a first in school history. Being only 13, a girls mind is already spinning, but the pressure to win and not let anyone down was incredable. As we headed to the state championship tournament our coach said something that I will never forget. He said, "This opportunity only happens to most people once in their lifetime. You should remember every moment and be extatic that you have made it this far." At that time we had no clue what he meant. Again, we were 13 - we thought we knew it all and we were SURE we would see a winning season like that again at SOME point in our lives. Little did we know. What we were also sure of was how incredibly nervous we were to be playing against the best teams in the state. Against girls that would go on to be leading scorers and all time blocking champs in high school, not to mention the future college and even WMBA stars (the WMBA didn't even exist then). We knew we were out of our league, but we played with all our hearts. When our leading scorer got hurt, we fell apart as a team.
I think back to how scared I was. How mortifying a loss in the first round was going to be. But I also remember how helpless I felt because I couldn't contribute to the win any more than I already was. At that moment I vowed never to let one player cause me to not reach my goals again.
Little did I know that my future would be much like that basketball competition. Today is quite similar in that I am a bit out of my league trying to take a company national in an industry full of giants and companies with more history. But this time there will be no one to depend on but me. This time my destany is in my own hands and my ability to sprint up the court and hustle is the only limiting factor. I am still nervous, terrified and sick to my stomach on a daily basis. But then I remember my coaches comment about this only happening once in a lifetime. And he was right - this is a once in a lifetime deal that I have. And I don't intend to lose this time.
Good thing I have been practicing.
Showing posts with label winning. Show all posts
Showing posts with label winning. Show all posts
Monday, March 17, 2008
Saturday, February 23, 2008
The importance of cheerleaders
Today we played a small part in changing the lives of several people and they may not even know it yet. Just like many years ago when Mrs. Kravoch change mine.
Aside from my mom, this woman single handedly set me on a different path. I was in 5th grade and got it in my head that I could try out for cheerleading. I always had a big mouth, but was never "the pretty one" or "the cool one" or "the cheerleader type". I did have some coordination and so I went for it. Out of all the girls that tried out, they only picked three. And for some strange reason for which to this day I do not understand, I was one of them. The experiences I learned from my grade school cheer days are a big reason why I have the confidence that I have today. Someone believed in me. Someone saw something in me, that I didn't see in myself. That changed my life.
For those people that know me today, I am still a cheerleader, but in a different manner. I don't do basket tosses or human pyramids (except at the instructor olypmics) or support cliques or gossip. I cheer for all of the people that never got to be "cool". I cheer for all of the people that don't have anyone to believe in them and that may not believe in themselves.
So today was extra special for me because I am certain that my cheers and belief in others made a difference. Today The American Boot Camp Company sponsored the Chastain Chase 5K and we encouraged all of our campers and instructors to come out and run the 3.1 miles around Chastain Park and help us kick off our "Regular Guy" race team. My goal with this race team is to encourage people of all fitness levels to get out and run. To try their best. I want them to feel like they are part of something and by being part of our team they will get the support they need to better themselves.
Racing boot camp style - we yell, hoop and holler the entire race. Many people think we are crazy. Someone even told me to save my breath today. Little did he know that I couldn't win the race even if I wanted, I am not the fastest in my age group or the fastest female. But I am Ok with that. I have other things I do well - like cheering. I would rather support the people that I knew could win the race. I would rather cheer them on, encourage them to run faster and remind them to breath and use proper form on the hills. I would rather represent the heart of The American Boot Camp Company - believe that everyone can give a little more with support.
And we seriously represented today. Thank you to everyone that came out and participated, cheered and showed everyone that The American Boot Camp Company is the most positive, most fun boot camp and that we don't quit until EVERY person in our group crosses the finish line.
The best news of this entire day is that many of us WON! As I write this, I get tears in my eyes because I am so proud of everyone that came out. Boot Camp is hard. Running 3 miles is hard. And neither of these things are part of most "normal" peoples lives. But each morning we get out of bed before the crack of dawn and give it our all so that we can feel better about ourselves the rest of the day. We smile through muddy workouts and grunt up grueling hills. We are determined to not quit. And today NONE of you did!
A special mention goes out to my boot camper that didn't believe she did well today. She broke 40 minutes. Now, in comparison to the atheltes that win a 5K distance in professional competitions this seems slow. But and I mean BUT, this woman isn't 23. She has a full life behind her. But every morning she gets up with a postive can do attitude and doesn't quit. She might not be the fastest, but today she won a GOLD horseshoe medal in her age group. Today she WON the race. I have never been prouder and never been believed more in the importance of cheerleaders.
Do You Boot Camp? I do. I boot camp with The American Boot Camp Company.
Aside from my mom, this woman single handedly set me on a different path. I was in 5th grade and got it in my head that I could try out for cheerleading. I always had a big mouth, but was never "the pretty one" or "the cool one" or "the cheerleader type". I did have some coordination and so I went for it. Out of all the girls that tried out, they only picked three. And for some strange reason for which to this day I do not understand, I was one of them. The experiences I learned from my grade school cheer days are a big reason why I have the confidence that I have today. Someone believed in me. Someone saw something in me, that I didn't see in myself. That changed my life.
For those people that know me today, I am still a cheerleader, but in a different manner. I don't do basket tosses or human pyramids (except at the instructor olypmics) or support cliques or gossip. I cheer for all of the people that never got to be "cool". I cheer for all of the people that don't have anyone to believe in them and that may not believe in themselves.
So today was extra special for me because I am certain that my cheers and belief in others made a difference. Today The American Boot Camp Company sponsored the Chastain Chase 5K and we encouraged all of our campers and instructors to come out and run the 3.1 miles around Chastain Park and help us kick off our "Regular Guy" race team. My goal with this race team is to encourage people of all fitness levels to get out and run. To try their best. I want them to feel like they are part of something and by being part of our team they will get the support they need to better themselves.
Racing boot camp style - we yell, hoop and holler the entire race. Many people think we are crazy. Someone even told me to save my breath today. Little did he know that I couldn't win the race even if I wanted, I am not the fastest in my age group or the fastest female. But I am Ok with that. I have other things I do well - like cheering. I would rather support the people that I knew could win the race. I would rather cheer them on, encourage them to run faster and remind them to breath and use proper form on the hills. I would rather represent the heart of The American Boot Camp Company - believe that everyone can give a little more with support.
And we seriously represented today. Thank you to everyone that came out and participated, cheered and showed everyone that The American Boot Camp Company is the most positive, most fun boot camp and that we don't quit until EVERY person in our group crosses the finish line.
The best news of this entire day is that many of us WON! As I write this, I get tears in my eyes because I am so proud of everyone that came out. Boot Camp is hard. Running 3 miles is hard. And neither of these things are part of most "normal" peoples lives. But each morning we get out of bed before the crack of dawn and give it our all so that we can feel better about ourselves the rest of the day. We smile through muddy workouts and grunt up grueling hills. We are determined to not quit. And today NONE of you did!
A special mention goes out to my boot camper that didn't believe she did well today. She broke 40 minutes. Now, in comparison to the atheltes that win a 5K distance in professional competitions this seems slow. But and I mean BUT, this woman isn't 23. She has a full life behind her. But every morning she gets up with a postive can do attitude and doesn't quit. She might not be the fastest, but today she won a GOLD horseshoe medal in her age group. Today she WON the race. I have never been prouder and never been believed more in the importance of cheerleaders.
Do You Boot Camp? I do. I boot camp with The American Boot Camp Company.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
