Discussion: A great essay on Motivation
in: Orienteering; Training & Technique
Mar 4, 2005 1:13 AM
#
Chad Giese
Subaru Factory Team
(An exerpt from my National Masters 2005 speech)
About a year ago I was approached by a skier and was asked to write a letter to a young man to encourage him to do a ski race. This was a young man who needed a lifestyle change, to be more active, and to enjoy the outdoors. At first I thought, 'What could my letter do to motivate this young man to try a sport that he really has no interest in, desire to do, or talent for?' I immediately took on the challenge and I was going to give it my best shot and I sent him a letter. I found out about a month ago that this young man signed up to do the 13km race at the Mora Vasaloppet. Was it my letter? I don't know, but something made this young man make a leap he didn't think he could. Was he going to win? No, but he was going to try his hardest. And that is a victory.
Motivation is that which causes a person to act. Motivation is different at different times. For me, the motivation to ski race may be a little more obvious: My goal of skiing in the 2006 Olympics is what has motivated me to live the lifestyle I do. But as I sat down to really think about why I ski, I came to realize that I ski for many different reasons, most of which are not results driven.
Personally, I get out of bed on 40F rainy days in October because I know it will make me stronger. I go into the woods for 6 hour runs along the north shore because I know it will make me more efficient. I push harder during the last interval because I know I will be able to tolerate more. I make one more brush stroke over my skis because I know I will need that extra second. But is this knowledge enough to motivate an elite cross-country skier to pursue such a lofty goal as becoming the best skier in MN, the US, or the World? For me the answer is not really.
What motivates me to train hard and compete is most likely the same thing that motivates you to train and compete. Being a cross-country skier opens up the best of what life has to offer. I get out of bed on 40F rainy days in October because I like the fresh smell of the rain. I go into the woods for 6 hour runs because I love looking at the leaves, the rocks, the animals, the beautiful views, the sky, the sun and countless other reasons. I am not the person that puts my head down and only checks my watch to see how much longer I have to go only so I can get in my hours for the week. I love being outside and that is really what being a cross-country skier requires. I push harder during the last interval because I love testing my system, not the system, but my system. All of these are necessary parts in reaching my ultimate goal, but they are in a way an end in themselves, not just a means to an end.
At this point in the season it is important for me to remember why I am a cross-country skier. It is easy to be so focused that I lose sight of the big picture and see results defining me as a skier. Great results are a nice reward for all of the hard work I put in throughout the year, but they are not the main reason I ski.
I encourage you to think about why you are a skier, step back and look at the big picture, then just get out there and do it. It is easy to get caught up in the excitement of the big races at this time of the year.
Have fun and good luck!
Subaru Factory Team
(An exerpt from my National Masters 2005 speech)
About a year ago I was approached by a skier and was asked to write a letter to a young man to encourage him to do a ski race. This was a young man who needed a lifestyle change, to be more active, and to enjoy the outdoors. At first I thought, 'What could my letter do to motivate this young man to try a sport that he really has no interest in, desire to do, or talent for?' I immediately took on the challenge and I was going to give it my best shot and I sent him a letter. I found out about a month ago that this young man signed up to do the 13km race at the Mora Vasaloppet. Was it my letter? I don't know, but something made this young man make a leap he didn't think he could. Was he going to win? No, but he was going to try his hardest. And that is a victory.
Motivation is that which causes a person to act. Motivation is different at different times. For me, the motivation to ski race may be a little more obvious: My goal of skiing in the 2006 Olympics is what has motivated me to live the lifestyle I do. But as I sat down to really think about why I ski, I came to realize that I ski for many different reasons, most of which are not results driven.
Personally, I get out of bed on 40F rainy days in October because I know it will make me stronger. I go into the woods for 6 hour runs along the north shore because I know it will make me more efficient. I push harder during the last interval because I know I will be able to tolerate more. I make one more brush stroke over my skis because I know I will need that extra second. But is this knowledge enough to motivate an elite cross-country skier to pursue such a lofty goal as becoming the best skier in MN, the US, or the World? For me the answer is not really.
What motivates me to train hard and compete is most likely the same thing that motivates you to train and compete. Being a cross-country skier opens up the best of what life has to offer. I get out of bed on 40F rainy days in October because I like the fresh smell of the rain. I go into the woods for 6 hour runs because I love looking at the leaves, the rocks, the animals, the beautiful views, the sky, the sun and countless other reasons. I am not the person that puts my head down and only checks my watch to see how much longer I have to go only so I can get in my hours for the week. I love being outside and that is really what being a cross-country skier requires. I push harder during the last interval because I love testing my system, not the system, but my system. All of these are necessary parts in reaching my ultimate goal, but they are in a way an end in themselves, not just a means to an end.
At this point in the season it is important for me to remember why I am a cross-country skier. It is easy to be so focused that I lose sight of the big picture and see results defining me as a skier. Great results are a nice reward for all of the hard work I put in throughout the year, but they are not the main reason I ski.
I encourage you to think about why you are a skier, step back and look at the big picture, then just get out there and do it. It is easy to get caught up in the excitement of the big races at this time of the year.
Have fun and good luck!
This discussion thread is closed.