Winning (a SilverSport Towel among other things)

demotivational posters - WINNING!" title="demotivational posters - WINNING!" height="429px" width="500px">
see more Very Demotivational, Submitted by: Joshua Thunderbird, http://verydemotivational.memebase.com/2011/03/25/demotivational-posters-winning-3/

I've been thinking about "winning" quite a bit these days, not necessarily in the Charlie Sheen sense, but more the sense of what it really means. Obviously, since we are very young we are taught that "winning" is better than "loosing." Or at the very least, that we are to strive for excellence in what we do, even if it means that we don't end up winning the t-ball game, winning the race, or getting the highest grade. I don't disagree with this philosophy, but as I get ready to speak with the graduating class of my high school next week, I'm trying to wrap my mind around all of the different things going through their head. What pressure they must be feeling to "succeed" and what the definition of success or winning really even means!

In racing it's simple, someone crosses the finish line first and they are the definition, technically, of the winner. Think about it though, thousands of us spend crazy dollars to go around the country and race and most us of don't even have that particular goal in our sites. We want to beat last years time, or have a run PR, or see friends and share the experience with other athletes. That's our definition of winning. I just want to stress to these kids that not only will everyone's path not be the same, but one will not necessarily mean they are "successful" if they achieve this particular goal or that particular house, or car or materialistic thing. While one girl sitting there may strive to be the best Mother possible, another may bust her butt to nail her MCAT's and become a surgeon. Not one decision is more right.. it's about what is right and what is meaningful for each one of them.

Now, of course, I'm having all these OTHER additional thoughts after I've already written the dang speech (which I'm pretty sure is right at my cut-off so they'll be pulling me off the stage on Wed!). However, I may try to work some of them in as well.

I guess I just want them to know that even if it seems like I've had some athletic success, it isn't that I believe this is the answer, or the begin all, or the end all.. I want them to enjoy the journey they take, whatever it may be, and give it their maximum effort while still remembering why they started to take that path in the first place. When thinking about them, I can't help but think about my own life, where I am, if I'm happy..

Pictures from my trail run this week which was SO much fun.. I hope I see that on the schedule again soon!

Last weekend I was riding along my good friend Lisa on the most gorgeous Saturday and I was feeling really, really spectacular. Sun on my back, grinding up hills, flying down the other sides and I told her that if rapture came that evening.. I'd thought about my life and I'm pretty pleased.. so let's do this thing! Of course, it didn't come, but I do think it's always good to think like that - if we knew we were going to die tomorrow, what would we do differently? Who would we mend our relationship with before it happened? Who would we call to say I love you?

Morbid for a holiday weekend - I know.. but I can't help it! I guess what I want to say is (from the words of shawshank redemption) "Either get busy living, or get busy dying" because we only have so much time! What's your definition of winning?? I would love to hear so share - please!!

I think last night I considered finding a new cool place to get wood-fired pizza and salad winning!!! Yep.. seemed like a win to me!

Oh..and in other random news, there was an article on Xtri about me last week and it's an interesting read (of course I think that - its about me!). You can read i HERE if you like!

You guys were AWESOME about my new bike.. man! I loved those comments with a passion! Thank you so much for being excited for me and again, I hope like heck we can get it to fit after all this hoopla!

FINALLY - I'm also announcing the winners of the Silver Sport Towel Contest!

Please give it up for Jamie at SWIM-BIKE-RUN-LIVE and Kim K at "TETA" means "BOOBY" in Spanish! Kim - I have your address, Jamie - please send it to me on facebook or email!

Thanks for entering and following! Now, if I could just get over 100 followers.. for heaven sake, I have 99. Someone please buck up and get me over that 100 barrier! Geezz!!

I hope everyone has a great weekend! I'll be on my bike for a DANG good portion of it, as Ironman training is in FULL effect. I have 5.5 on Sat. and 4.5 on Sunday. YIKES! Here we go!!!!

Just remember, triathlon is fun..that's why we do it! I hope that we can all share a little laugher at ourselves like my man Jason here.. Congrats to him on a great race at Triple-T among the other awesome races we had last weekend from my Ballou Skies teammates!

More Pittsburgh Half Mary Pics & Silversport Towel Giveaway!

The more I think about Sunday, the more I am fine with it. Ok, I'll admit it, at first I was a little bummed.. and a little perturbed that my coach didn't see this coming. Then, I got over myself. It certainly wasn't his fault - I'm the one that planned this race in the midst of hardcore 70.3 / beginning of Ironman training.

Thanks for all the comments and wise-words that were shared! That helped me gain a little dose of perspective and I'll take a little sympathy!! Sure!! LOL!

Lisa, good training partner and GREAT friend pre-race! I'm sporting my socks-turned-into-arm-warmers look! Loved them - never even got too hot to pitch them so I'm definitely going to use that idea again if I have to this season! It will probably be too hot though!
Staci and Monique got up at 3:30am to head down to Pitt just to see me race! Thanks ladies - that means sooooo much to me! A big thanks to K for being the photographer for the day! Sorry I'm a bad wife and didn't get any pictures with you in all the madness!!
As usual, it was a rainy race! It was cool to see all the elite runners come out of the hotel and just line right up in front of the rope holding the rest of us in Corral A back. Yeah, my time had no business being up there with them - none! At least not this time!
The crazy part was, the pacer actually ended up winning the marathon! He was only supposed to help them split the 10 mile and the guy goes on and wins it! How cool is that! The article can be read here!

Here I am showing off my silver towel after the race! My boss is involved with the company responsible for these very cool towel. I am not sponsored by them in any way, but I am helping them out when they need a little assistance! The really cool part is that they are anti-microbal! You can find them for purchase at Dicks Sporting Goods.

I did not propose we use this photo, but this is what they liked.. hey whatever!

Here I am at a video shoot for SilverSport - over toward the corner with my arm up!

It's a wonderful concept that I know athletes everywhere can really benefit from as we are living out of our gym bags, cars, lifting on fitness equipment that who knows where it's been, and spinning on spin bikes with peoples grubby hands all over them! I'm into NOT getting sick as much as possible this season so, for people like me, this towel is a must.

Therefore, I'm giving away two sets of two towels to two lucky people in a very easy way!!

Do one of these = one entry:

#1. Follow This Blog (above - see the box with all the faces)!

#2. Say you like Silversport on Facebook because you read my blog!

#3. Follow me on TWITTER - @fuelyourpassion

#4. Post that you entered this contest to your facebook page linked to my blog

Leave me a comment and let me know what you have done! I'll draw the winners a week from today! (May 27th)