I’ll be honest with you. Exercise is very much my drug of choice, my religion, my guiding light. It’s what makes me happy, increases my confidence and is a part of life I cannot do without.
That’s not to be confused with meaning it’s easy. It still takes a lot of discipline to make it happen and some days it doesn’t. (Last week I went into my gym to lift weights. I ended up taking selfies instead. Ha! We’ve all done it, right? Right guys? Hey…guys? Hmmm. Maybe ‘when your mojo goes walkabout’ is a topic for another blog.)
Into the wild: a deep water wade tested Spartans at last week’s obstacle race in Brisbane
Anyway, regardless of how uplifting a run on the beach or a training session with friends can be, the daily training routine isn’t always enough. Every now and again it’s great to put yourself out there in the competition arena. Test yourself against others, face your fears, compete. Compete against your peers, yourself and your nerves. It’s great for the soul and gives your training a purpose. How do I stack up? How hard can I really push myself?
Competition can definitely be a love-hate experience. There’s the pre-race nerves, doubts, anticipation and knowledge of certain physical pain to come. There’s also the thrill of finishing, accomplishing, conquering.
Those nerves and doubts only add to the amount of satisfaction and pride we feel in those heady days post-race.
Competition can also produce personal best performances borne out of pushing our bodies as hard as they can go or to keep up with the person next to us. And no training session can replicate the hum of merriment and general excitement experienced as part of a pre-race gathering awaiting the starter’s gun.
These races, events and competitions can also further fuel our passion for training, identify weaknesses and help us set our sights on bigger goals.
A test of balance and concentration. 30 burpees await those who fall from this precarious perch.
No matter your age or ability there is truly something out there for everyone from simple fun runs and bike rides, to triathlons and obstacle races, team sporting events, CrossFit competitions or other sporting carnivals. Put yourself out there and be prepared to face your fears and nerves. You might just love it and what you become in the process.