I was in the thick of work when I completed Spin Off Spadina at Pike Lake just south of Saskatoon. I didn't have time to blog but I had plenty of reflection time both during the event and following.
I am posting the speech I shared with our Grade 8 students at their farewell, as one of my Nathan goals is to be a role model for the kids at my school ;D! (Keep in mind the audience includes Grades One through Eight...)
Two weeks ago I told Mrs.. Berge that I didn't think I would come up with an little inspirational story to share with her Grade 8 class today....
But it was only 2 days later, in the middle of Pike Lake, while having a very poor swim, that I think I found my inspiration....and it was in trying to organize my thoughts for the grade 8s, that I got through my swim! Such is balance in life.
Let me begin at the beginning...
But it was only 2 days later, in the middle of Pike Lake, while having a very poor swim, that I think I found my inspiration....and it was in trying to organize my thoughts for the grade 8s, that I got through my swim! Such is balance in life.
Let me begin at the beginning...
I call this: LEARNING HOW NOT TO DROWN IN THE COLD GRAY WATERS OF PIKE LAKE ON AN EARLY SUNDAY MORNING IN JUNE
I didn't really feel ready to enter a triathlon called Spin off Spadina an event that's made up of a 1.5 km swim, 40 km bike ride and 10 km run. While I had done some biking and some running, I hadn't managed to get in any lake swims, mostly because of the cold spring we'd had. Still, I thought it would be good training for a bigger race coming up.
As I checked out the lake early Sunday morning, I could see the 4 yellow buoys used as markers for the swim off in the grey distance. We would have to swim around them twice. When I got into the lake with my wetsuit I was very happy to find it was not too cold, at least not with my wetsuit on. But when the race started I couldn't get my breathing right. After a few minutes of panting I decided that maybe my wetsuit was too tight at the neck. I stopped and tried to loosen it while treading water. When I pulled on the zipper at the back, instead of just opening up the collar, the whole suit unzipped..and my wetsuit began to fill with icy water. I tried swimming but felt too sloshy...and way too cold... so after a few minutes I stopped again. By now, all of the other swimmers had gone around the far buoy in the water and I was left way behind.
It's kind of hard to suddenly make a plan when you're over your head in cold gray water, to think clearly..
I tried to pull the zipper back up but the string on it floated around and I couldn't reach it. I was getting tired and frustrated. I looked up to see a green canoe with 2 volunteers floating nearby watching me. I finally gave in to my pride (I hate to ask for help) and called them over. They let me hold the side of the canoe until I could find the string to pull the zipper up, meanwhile telling me jokes and encouraging me. I had a great idea...I would just get into that canoe with those happy friendly volunteers and never lake swim again...just quit! A great idea! But something inside said...you know you can't just quit! Not yet! What would your friends think? What would your kids think? What would your team sponsor think? I knew if I ever got into that boat I would be finished forever with my racing...and then how would I convince myself it had been the only answer. So I decided: Just try! at least a little!
So I pushed away from that beautiful, safe, secure canoe and started swimming. One stroke, one breath at a time. After about 5 minutes I finally found a good breathing rhythm. I wasn't very fast but I was slowly moving to the 1st yellow buoy. By this time many of the swimmers were passing me as they went around the buoys a second time.
I just kept stroking slowly rhythmically, and whenever I'd get tired, I'd think of what I was going to tell the grade 8 class 2 weeks later about not giving up, about asserting yourself and getting help when you need it, about getting back in the lake or getting back into your school classes or assignments and trying again. That you can't just quit when it's tough and there's an easy way out...because you might not get back in again; you might not finish...and only YOU can do it....That's the way life is...it's HARD!!! and yah, people can cheer for you and encourage and sometimes even prop you for a minute...but you have to do some things, very hard things, on your own.
I didn't really feel ready to enter a triathlon called Spin off Spadina an event that's made up of a 1.5 km swim, 40 km bike ride and 10 km run. While I had done some biking and some running, I hadn't managed to get in any lake swims, mostly because of the cold spring we'd had. Still, I thought it would be good training for a bigger race coming up.
As I checked out the lake early Sunday morning, I could see the 4 yellow buoys used as markers for the swim off in the grey distance. We would have to swim around them twice. When I got into the lake with my wetsuit I was very happy to find it was not too cold, at least not with my wetsuit on. But when the race started I couldn't get my breathing right. After a few minutes of panting I decided that maybe my wetsuit was too tight at the neck. I stopped and tried to loosen it while treading water. When I pulled on the zipper at the back, instead of just opening up the collar, the whole suit unzipped..and my wetsuit began to fill with icy water. I tried swimming but felt too sloshy...and way too cold... so after a few minutes I stopped again. By now, all of the other swimmers had gone around the far buoy in the water and I was left way behind.
It's kind of hard to suddenly make a plan when you're over your head in cold gray water, to think clearly..
I tried to pull the zipper back up but the string on it floated around and I couldn't reach it. I was getting tired and frustrated. I looked up to see a green canoe with 2 volunteers floating nearby watching me. I finally gave in to my pride (I hate to ask for help) and called them over. They let me hold the side of the canoe until I could find the string to pull the zipper up, meanwhile telling me jokes and encouraging me. I had a great idea...I would just get into that canoe with those happy friendly volunteers and never lake swim again...just quit! A great idea! But something inside said...you know you can't just quit! Not yet! What would your friends think? What would your kids think? What would your team sponsor think? I knew if I ever got into that boat I would be finished forever with my racing...and then how would I convince myself it had been the only answer. So I decided: Just try! at least a little!
So I pushed away from that beautiful, safe, secure canoe and started swimming. One stroke, one breath at a time. After about 5 minutes I finally found a good breathing rhythm. I wasn't very fast but I was slowly moving to the 1st yellow buoy. By this time many of the swimmers were passing me as they went around the buoys a second time.
I just kept stroking slowly rhythmically, and whenever I'd get tired, I'd think of what I was going to tell the grade 8 class 2 weeks later about not giving up, about asserting yourself and getting help when you need it, about getting back in the lake or getting back into your school classes or assignments and trying again. That you can't just quit when it's tough and there's an easy way out...because you might not get back in again; you might not finish...and only YOU can do it....That's the way life is...it's HARD!!! and yah, people can cheer for you and encourage and sometimes even prop you for a minute...but you have to do some things, very hard things, on your own.
I swam passed all 4 buoys, swam to shore and slowly stumbled around a marker placed in the sand. Then I had to get in the water and start all over again. Boy! I was tired...and by this time many of the swimmers were finishing their second round and it was hard not to compare myself to them. They were already getting on their bikes. But I decided this would be a race against myself...against the dark thoughts that I had that made me feel like quitting.
Well, I didn't get any faster but I also didn't quit...I kept going, stroke after stroke, breath after breath....I counted...400 strokes to the next buoy... another 400 to the next one...and so I went. I was about half way through my second round when out of nowhere I got hit. Suddenly there were arms and feet and bobbing heads in MY space...where I was trying to swim. Then I realized it was a faster group of racers who had entered a shorter sprint category. They had started after those of us in the Olympic distance...and they only had to swim around the buoys once. They were trying to swim over top of me in their rush to get around the buoys. I tried to catch my breath but my legs cramped up so I had no choice but to keep stroking. The green canoe was nearby ( I think they must have followed me the whole time)...and they yelled, "Darn sprinters always mess up a person's rhythm!" I laughed and settled back into my stroke. It's so encouraging to know there's someone by your side or even just on your side...
Well, I didn't get any faster but I also didn't quit...I kept going, stroke after stroke, breath after breath....I counted...400 strokes to the next buoy... another 400 to the next one...and so I went. I was about half way through my second round when out of nowhere I got hit. Suddenly there were arms and feet and bobbing heads in MY space...where I was trying to swim. Then I realized it was a faster group of racers who had entered a shorter sprint category. They had started after those of us in the Olympic distance...and they only had to swim around the buoys once. They were trying to swim over top of me in their rush to get around the buoys. I tried to catch my breath but my legs cramped up so I had no choice but to keep stroking. The green canoe was nearby ( I think they must have followed me the whole time)...and they yelled, "Darn sprinters always mess up a person's rhythm!" I laughed and settled back into my stroke. It's so encouraging to know there's someone by your side or even just on your side...
I was again on my own in the lake...and getting tired...especially my arms...and I was getting cold! I finally rounded the final buoy and stumbled onto the shore, to find my bike and begin the 2nd part of my race.
Well, to make a long story short, I completed the biking and the run...and finished the whole race. So yah, I was a little happy with myself...not because I had finished the event and not because, in the end I got a 3rd place medal for my age group...(how funny is that!!) but because I got back in the lake when I didn't think I could do it. So I am sharing this little story with you to encourage you...to give you something to think about when you want to give up...when you feel you're over your head...when it would be easier to just quit and join the people in the canoe or on the shore.
You might need to assert yourself...to ask for help! You'll still have to do the work, even when your friends and classmates are way ahead...but don't give up...not yet....keep going...one class, one assignment, one day, one year, one stroke, one breath at a time. When you look back, you will be amazed at how far you've come!! You will be so proud of yourself...
...and you never know what other rewards will be waiting for you...when you least expect them...just like my 3rd place medal.
Well, to make a long story short, I completed the biking and the run...and finished the whole race. So yah, I was a little happy with myself...not because I had finished the event and not because, in the end I got a 3rd place medal for my age group...(how funny is that!!) but because I got back in the lake when I didn't think I could do it. So I am sharing this little story with you to encourage you...to give you something to think about when you want to give up...when you feel you're over your head...when it would be easier to just quit and join the people in the canoe or on the shore.
You might need to assert yourself...to ask for help! You'll still have to do the work, even when your friends and classmates are way ahead...but don't give up...not yet....keep going...one class, one assignment, one day, one year, one stroke, one breath at a time. When you look back, you will be amazed at how far you've come!! You will be so proud of yourself...
...and you never know what other rewards will be waiting for you...when you least expect them...just like my 3rd place medal.
~ Valerie (aka Principal Horner) ~
