Spreading the Insanity

I haven't exactly been successful converting my non-triathlete friends to the sport, but I think I am having some influence on the younger generation.  One of my ambitious little fourth graders emailed me to tell me that she signed up for a kids' triathlon!!  I am one proud teacher!! As much as I want to get her some Gu and compression socks, explain the importance of bilateral breathing, and give her the name of a couple of good bike fit guys,  I have to remind myself that she is 10 and will be competing with other kids her age. 

When you're passionate about something, you can't help but want to talk about it ALL the time...or at least I do.  Each day I have a captive audience of dozens of 9 and 10 year olds who will gladly listen to me ramble on and on about the sport of triathlon.  We all welcome the break from the usual discussions that center around our fourth grade curriculum. I've found ways to relate the sport to almost everything I teach. Sometimes it's a stretch, but I usually find a way. My students are familiar with several professional triathletes, and they can tell  me the swim, bike, and run distances of both the Ironman and the half Ironman.  We've read stories about triathletes overcoming amazing odds, and I show them a little race footage from time to time.  They always amaze me with how many questions they have.  Mostly they like to know about going to the bathroom and eating during a race. They're like little sponges wanting to know everything!!  I love it!!

My students are some of my biggest fans.  They have never seen me race and they have no clue what my splits are.  As far as they are concerned, I look like Chrissie Wellington when I'm racing.  And yes, they do know who she is.  When I told them that she was taking a year off from Ironman racing, you could hear audible gasps throughout my room and see the looks of disappointment and disbelief all over their faces.  I assured them that she wasn't going away.  I explained that she was focusing on her other goals, and that she was writing a book.  One kid asked if I could call the people who put on the school book fair and request that they sell copies of her book.  My heart was bursting with joy at that moment.

My goals isn't necessarily for my students to all become triathletes...although I would have no problem with that.  I hope that as they grow they will remember their crazy fourth grade teacher who had a goal of doing an Ironman.  I want them to have goals that seem bigger than life, and to know that hard work and dedication pays off.

We fail to see that we can control our own destiny; make ourselves do whatever is possible; make ourselves become whatever we long to be. -  Orison Swett Marden