The sweet sweaty smell of success

#respecttheoldseekoutthenew2022

"Success isn't measured just from fame or fortune, from the medals or the rewards. But, most importantly, from all the times you fell, stumbled and failed; but without a moment of regret, continued to still push on."

Children who are brought up participating in competitive sports often aim to obtain medals and trophies; however, with time, one should realise that success, is about so much more.

Competing over the last 3 months was a much bigger challenge than I had initially anticipated. Working out alongside some pretty Elite athletes was an absolute honnor, but it also required alot of hard work, dedication and discipline on my behalf. I put in alot of hours at the gym and I was quite strict with my daily routines in hopes that I would be as prepared as possible. There were definitly some moments when I questioned myself and my choices, however I still kept going despite this.

My teams didn't make it on the podium in any of the most recent events (Precision Pairs, Turf Games, WodOn3 - unfortunately we needed to pull out of the last one), yet I still felt victorious after each one of them.

Every team training session and every competition day offered a range of challenges, which, for the most part, lead me to feeling a wonderful sense of achievment and pride. Whether it was surprising myself with doing some heavy (for me) front squats and some solid sets of toes-to-bar, doing some first-time yoke carries and worm cleans, getting some PRs on some lifts and complexes, or pushing through a torturous sled drag when every piece of me wanted to give up; I was reminded over and over again that success is about so much more than winning any type of prize.

For me, success has become all about commitment, consistency, tenacity, perseverance, bravery, hard work, focus, prioritizing, being open-minded, fuelling off others, but also building others up, knowing myself, believing in myself and of course, progressing.

Just a few weeks ago, some friends and I were discussing where I was just a few years back and that was a lovely reminder of the journey I have been on and all the progress that has been made, in terms of strength and fitness, but also in terms of mindset and work ethics.

I may not have any tangible proof of my accomplishments these last few months, but I realize that I have been successful in more ways than one.

"Define success on your own terms."

Comments

Living Outside The Box

"I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I believe I’m on the path I’m meant to be." As we get older, it’s easy to get trapped in society’s idea of what life "should" look like. By the time we hit 40, there’s a well-defined picture of success: owning a home, starting a family, climbing the career ladder. But as I approach this milestone, I’m choosing to remind myself that true happiness isn’t found in checking off someone else’s list. It’s found in stepping outside the box, embracing the unexpected, and allowing life to unfold in its own unique way. Sure, my path hasn’t always been conventional, and I’ve often found myself comparing my journey to others, wondering why I’m not where they are. But when I take a step back and reflect, I see how much I’ve gained by stepping off the well-worn road. Life may not have gone according to plan, but I’m proud of the unexpected milestones I’ve reached along the way. I’ve traveled to over 40 countries, lived in three (ye...

The runner in me

“Mind over miles.” A few years back, I was all in. I was that person signing up for every race that came across my radar—10K’s, half-marathons, marathons—you name it. The thrill of crossing the finish line, the camaraderie at the starting line, the way the crowds cheered you on, it was all so energizing. I didn’t even need music to get through a run, even a whole 42km marathon, which, I know, sounds crazy to most people. But there I was, in my zone, taking it all in and doing something I enjoyed. I collected lots of medals and racked up plenty of podium finishes, but most importantly I had some memorable international races, and met tons of amazing people along the way. I discovered that running was a really accessible sport; all you needed was a pair of shoes and the will to go. I could literally show up to a race, put one foot in front of the other, and—boom—be part of a community of people all working toward the same goal. So, what happened? Why did I stop running? For me, it came d...

Locked in.

“ The successful warrior is the average (wo)man , with laser-like focus. ” Life’s been feeling a little dull lately, but there’s one thing keeping me fired up; the experience of a lifetime is just around the corner. In just four weeks, I’ll be heading to Chicago to compete in the Hyrox World Championships, and I’m locked in. For many competitive and athletic kids, the dream is to make it to the Olympics or stand on a world championship stage in their sport. While Hyrox may not be the Olympics, for me, this is kind of that moment. This is my ‘world stage’; I can’t wait to soak it all in and add it to the list of things I’m proud of. This idea sort of started on my 40th birthday this year. While most people celebrate with a party and cake or a getaway, I made a wild choice: I booked my place in the Hyrox World Championships with my doubles partner. Bold? Definitely. Crazy? Probably. Worth it? Without a doubt. The last time I pushed myself this hard was back in 2019 when I trained for a C...

One Rising Star

Search This Blog