Making the Cut
It’s probably not a stretch to say that “making the cut” of a given sports team is among a 14 year old athlete’s most important high school goals. Of course it doesn’t always work out, and the perceived negative outcome can often be devastating to a teen. But to some, it puts just the right amount of fuel on the smolders inside, and ignites an undeniable and unrelenting burst of fire.
When Ryan came to our training facility and shared the news that he had not been invited onto the high school freshman baseball team, we of course were disappointed for him. But when he immediately followed it with his intent to work, day in and day out, to never let that feeling happen again, we realized that inside this young man was the element of ENDURE. And work he did, with a motivation and focus we’ve not often seen teen athletes possess. Approximately 365 days later, Ryan shared the news that he had not only made the (now) junior varsity team, but he was being called up to contribute at the Varsity level. He scaled the high school athletic ladder from not making the cut on the freshmen team to Varsity one year later. The limits of ENDURE are truly unknown. Books are written and movies are made of athletes pushing the perceived limits in pursuit of big goals. Ryan is an athlete that will always make the cut in our book.
Identity Theft
I’ll never forget the discussion. It was one of the tougher ones I’ve had in my 20 years as a coach. Looking at and listening to a friend who was explaining a hurt much deeper than the physical pain the arthritis in his hip was causing, he was, in his words, lost.
Frank had been a runner for the last couple decades or so. Never an athlete growing up, he had found the sport, engaged with it on many levels (socially, recreational athlete, competitor), and in many ways it had evolved into a part of his identity. Frank loved running. It had helped him battle through more than enough lows en route to life-achievement level highs, but shortly prior to our conversation, it had been stripped of him and it hurt…bad. We began talking through some different strategies…grieving / coping skills if you will… things that might not be exactly running, but had a chance to scratch, even if only slightly, the unquenchable itch. He’d go on to help produce road races and endurance events as part of the Main Street Marathon team…become the “course doctor” developing maps and taking athletes through tortuous terrain that only an endurance athlete can appreciate and find “love” in. He’d find himself in the gym, lifting more weight and getting stronger than his younger self could likely ever imagine… and eventually we’d get him on two wheels.
I think if you’d ask him he’d tell you he was fighting back, even if unknowingly at the time, that he wasn’t ready to give up, He was fighting against the diagnosis that kept him from running and was trying to steal that part of him, fighting for something he believed in and loved, Fighting…Enduring… Knowing that a marathoner always plays the long game, and that he was not ready to accept the race as over.
After a total hip replacement most people are told running is not going to be a major part of their future. Of course, most people do not put the time and effort into strength and conditioning that Frank does. Or said another way…..”frankly”...most people aren’t Frank. And so, we pull inspiration from him. We share gratitude that he’s a part of our extended team and that we have had the privilege to support him as he’s ENDURED and reclaimed an important part of himself….run after run…race by race…finish line by finish line….achievement after achievement.
-Eric E.
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