Are all men created equal?

I pose this question in terms of athleticism and by no means am I limiting said question to men. I was recently watching YouTube videos of the Hawaiian Ironman. If you haven't, you should.

Most athletes would agree that your body will only take you so far and that your mind in some respect has to do the rest. For some at the beginning of a race they're off to the sidelines puking. While their body is doing the puking, its their mind gearing up. Nerves, doubts, anxiety, fear, all wrapped up into barfing your brains out. For others its being on mile 22 of a 25 mile ride, as you look ahead the road goes vertical. You've got nothing but a hill in front of you. You're exhausted, you've been giving your all for 22 miles and now you're being asked, or rather you're asking your body to give more. That is your mind. You say your mantra - "I am as strong as an ox", "I'm a powerhouse", "Be the bike!", "My ass looks great in these padded shorts!" whatever it is you do with your brain to get up that hill, you do. If you said nothing to yourself, would you make it up that hill?

Being a strong athlete is far more than beautifully sculpted muscles, fancy-ass gear, or a $49 water bottle that weighs 1/100th of an ounce (FYI - water always ways the same no matter what kind of bottle you put it in). An athlete is someone who while passing someone on a hill looks back and says "Lookin' good!" An athlete is someone that is reminded of the people that inspire them, whether its another sports hero or their best friend who had cancer. An athlete is someone that can set goals and feel good about reaching them. In the summer, the Minneapolis trails are packed with people, I've bitched about it in past blogs. What I haven't bitched about are how kick-ass I think it is when a woman who does NOT have a perfect body is out running in her sports bra. Us ladies have to wear more layers than you men. Men can run with no shirt if they so desire, but we have to run with a sports bra then a tank or t-shirt. And when its 95-degrees out, it can suck. But when I see a woman out there, exercising, doing HER best in just a sports bra, I am inspired.

Next time you're out driving and you see a cyclist or a runner, or someone working their ass off in exercise you might be looking at a triathlete or even someone training for a triathlon (like me) an Ironman. Feel free to give them a little space on the road, you never know how long they've been out there. Be sure to give them an encouraging smile or a thumbs up, because it matters.

Not all athletes are created equal. An athlete is someone who knows what their limits are and still pushes beyond them. I will always strive to be a better athlete.