So many times I have tried to say what he said so simply. Chuckie has taught me so much about physiology, how to train a triathlete and how to find my own inner athlete. Of all that he has taught me, this latest blog of his is the foundation to all of that. He lives this latest blog in his council to me every single day.
He reiterates over and over that there are times in life, when “no” is the answer to a lot of the questions you are asked. That way you can say “yes” to doing what it takes to be great.
In front of the big banyon tree the morning of Kona 2010, I sat with Chuckie and Ang and got those last minute words only a coach can give. I then went and demonstrated my CAPABILITY for 10 hours and 17 minutes.
I have lived many years of my life as a “Jill of all trades”. Look at my bio, I climb, I ski, I mountaineer, I swim, I bike, I run, I sew, I knit, I ultrarun, I could go on here. But since I have been training under Chuck, mostly I’m a wife, a mom, a daughter, a swimmer, a biker, a runner, and I try to be a good friend to a select few. My circle has become smaller and smaller, and often the answer is “no”.
I still have a ways to go. But I have an honest mentor, so much more that just a coach.
Thanks Chuckie, this one was like a giant GONG.
Here it is folks, direct from Chuckie V, read ‘em and weep.
I think one of the most important things that a busy mom can learn is to say “No” when it’s necessary. There are lots of people that want/need a piece of your day and we forget that we can say no when it’s not in our best interest to say yes. Chuck is a wise man indeed!
Wow…your posts are just killing me lately. I am completely guilty of the “Yes to everything” approach, often leading to much stress and feeling overly spread out. I just signed up for my first IM on Monday and I will refer back to this and Chuckie’s post as the training gets higher and higher volume.
“No.” There, I’m already practicing.
I love reading Chuckie’s thoughts and seeing how they shape your choices.
At the end of the day, that is what it is all about, isn’t it? The choices we make. And those choices shape (or are they shaped by?) the success we both achieve and desire.
Clearly your choices are leading to fantastic results. Congrats again on Racine!
I have such a hard time saying no and I try to do everything which sometimes makes me do things half-a…, thanks for this reminder. I am trying to re prioritize things this month, I needed this.
I went to a conference in the spring for women engineers in academia, and one of the workshops was on “how to not say yes to everything”- and I have started to really try to incorporate this sort of mentality into my daily life. I find myself saying NO to staying late at work (albeit I’m talking to myself) and saying no to doing experiments that will suck up all my time. I’m not even married (yet) or have a kid, so I don’t really have that many people banging down my door, but I still feel overwhelmed. And I’ve found going hermit style really does the trick (and finding a cool training buddy to rock a day of biking with!). It’s amazing how big of a difference it has made in my life the last few months, not to mention to my training
You got it right girl, you got your focus and that’s the ticket.
SONJA!!!! So fun to watch you. I love seeing your smile in all your pics and that sassy jump at the finish. You go girl!!! Keep rockin’ it!!!
Love,
Adrienne