Those who came before me

I have been an athlete in my different sports for most of my life. I have learned from and guided by many. Some were official coaches hired for the job. More were fellow athletes, teammates and even competitors, who showed me what it takes to rise to the challenge of my potential. Some know me very well and I consider them close friends, others have no clue who I am or that I exist. These amazing folks are the giants whose shoes beat down a path for people like me to follow.

I think it is important to reflect on the friendly faces we meet along our journeys. How a seemingly insignificant conversation was a catalyst for a big change. Or how watching another’s persistence and growth inspired the same in myself.

My major sports have been RUNNING, roller derby and rock climbing (bouldering specifically, please, don’t ask me about knots). I grew in each sport with coaches and mentors. Each sport has its own vibe. Runners are just about the nicest people you can meet. We race against a clock so there is an amount of comraderies that happens when the clock is always faster. Roller derby is the fiercest sport I have played. Teamwork, positioning, trust and accountability are the pillars of a cohesive team. Those girls are still some of my closest friends. Rock climbing is puzzle solving on cold, hard rock. Rock climbers are ready to share ideas for a send and snacks.

I worked with coaches who screamed, coaches with soft voices, coaches who got sent to the penalty box, coaches who believed in me, coaches who did not see my potential, and coaches that trusted me to coach. I have learned so much from all of them. How I want to talk to my athletes, how to manage a team, how to support an athlete discovering they’re limit(less). To all my coaches I say thank you.

Other athletes, teammates and competitors, are my true teachers. Their wisdom and tenacity will be what had me nervous on a competition day. I have been in awe of strength, speed and power of others. Competitors push me to be better by letting me ride their coattails to their victory. I see my teammates as fellow lion clubs, we can practice cutting our teeth in play before the big hunt. I would have become an iota of the athlete I became without sharing the line, jam or rock with other athletes.

I have been coaching for over 10 years. The athletes that have given me the great honor of coaching them have also been great teachers. If I have give anything to my sport nowadays it is because of the lessons I had learned from those who I met along the way. So please thank them, too.