What's your Why?

---

On the 1st of November I got hit with a question that I was not expecting from a friend “Just outta interest. When it comes to training and racing, what's your why?”

I am always straight forward and honest so the first thing that came to my mind was;

1. “Good question, I guess for training and racing I love how I feel after a training session, being a big kid as I grew up I had low self-esteem and still working on it so, by training the endorphins give me a sense of clarity and a feel good buzz from it”

2. "The other big part is the fact I don't have a lot of mates from school like others, from all my years of traveling from 15-24 years old I never had a chance to develop good friendships and triathlon has allowed me to start to build that with like-minded out going people that I know that can relate to me and my journey”

3. “And the competitive side to me wants to beat the me from 2014 when I was racing strong, to show that in a period of 7 months I can turn my fitness back around and be stronger and fitter than I was ever before”

Another key point I hadn't mentioned was that during races I think of my best friend Jesse that passed away, a lot of opportunities if have taken and challenges I have thrown myself into I like to think I am doing it for the both of us so, when I am hurting he helps get me through. There is only one time this hasn't worked and I felt like I let him down which was during the 100km ultra-marathon but I knew that physically and mentally I had given it my everything.

It’s always interesting being asked a question like this as it makes you reflect and to be honest this is probably something a lot of us don’t do enough, but is important to because a clear sense of purpose “why” enables you to focus your efforts on what matters most to you, compelling you to take risks and push forward regardless of the odds or obstacles.

We all have different reasons for pushing ourselves past our limits. What’s your reason, and how do you work through the tough spots to make your why a reality?

Without our own why how do we expect to achieve our goals or dreams when we need to push the barriers of our own expectations. Wither it is to run 5km to finishing an ironman we need to have our why so we can get our butts up and off to the swimming pool at 4.30am, to lace our shoes up after a hard day at work or to spend countless hours on a bike to achieve that goal of ours.

Your why can drive you not only during your weekly training but also during your races and help you survive those low moments in a race. No matter who you are you will experience this more than once and in the worst situations multiple times in an endurance race. Having your why can be something you can fall back on to help you get through these lows and to where you want to go.

I have my why and I'd love to know yours or if you don't have one I say find it as it makes a difference! Ask yourself why? Why, are you doing what you do? (No matter what it is from triathlons or life) this can be too loose weight, to prove to yourself you can do the "impossible" or it could be family.

Until next time, stay positive and train hard!

Robo

"Find your why and then use it to channel your motivation"