There, I said it. I’ve been avoiding the “O” word for such a long time. It’s taken me months to come out and say it but there it is, plain, clear, and simple for all the Internet universe to see.
As a professional full-time coach for a private program, my personal racing has always taken a backseat to my job. This year, as I prepare to make the 2010 Winter Olympic Cross Country Ski team, I plan to step up my personal training while maintaining a high level of commitment to the athletes that I coach. (If anything is going to take a hit, it will be my social life or lack thereof!)
During the past year when people have asked me if I’ve thought about “trying out” for the Olympics or training to make the team, I’ve always been non-committal in my answer. My response usually followed the lines of, “I’m going to train like usual and see what happens” or, “we’ll see how things go.” The truth is, or course I’ve thought about it and “YES!” I want to try. This time when someone asks me about the Olympics I plan on being clear and committal in my response.
Why has it been so hard for me to admit my goal? To put it simply, I’m afraid of not making the team — of failing. “What will people think if I don’t make it?” But, if I wasn’t “trying” in the first place it would be a shock to everyone if I was named to the team. If I didn’t make it they would say, “You weren’t really trying — imagine what you could have done if you tried!” There is a fair amount of safety in hiding my goal or being “laissez-faire about it.” I am not going to hide behind the mask of being a coach anymore.
Vocalizing goals holds you accountable in more ways than one. It holds you responsible for your hard work: On a rainy, cold day where you don’t feel like training, perhaps you’ll think of your mom who will come to watch you race. Or, encouragement from your local community, family, and friends can provide inspiration or emotional, logistical, or even financial support.
By failing to vocalize my goal I realize I have only been short-changing myself. When people would inquire about my plans and I was blowing it off, I realize that the attitude was permeating my training efforts, my planning, and my ability to be a whole athlete. When you are trying to make an Olympic team there is no room for three-quarter effort. Undoubtedly there are other skiers out there who have vocalized their Olympic goals for years and are doing everything they possibly can to ensure they are on that team!
My hope, now that I have admitted to chasing the Olympic dream, is to have the ability to pursue my goal to the fullest: To receive support and encouragement from those around me; and last but not least, to inspire others to acknowledge, confront, and vocalize their dreams without fear of failure.
HOLLY BROOKS is a Nordic ski coach at Alaska Pacific University in Anchorage where she coaches junior and master athletes for competition and to support a healthy lifestyle. She's also an active competitor in cross country skiing and mountain running events... {more»}
Good luck, Holly! Congratulations on making the commitment – and so publicly. It’s easy to hide so as not to face failure, but making the firm commitment in mind, body and internet are sure to have even greater rewards.
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Holly- I don’t know you, but admire your willingness to put it out there. I wish you the best in pursuing your dream. Know that you have at least one mom of a 3 year old that will think of you when I am training, albeit for the somewhat less lofty goal of weight management and sanity
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yeah hols!!!!!! its about time!! I think you are absolutely right and I think this is so applicable to so many people and their goals. You’re an inspiration! love, s
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Hi Holly,
I bet you found that once you vocalized your goal about wanting to be an Olympian then your mindset then makes you even more determined to reach that goal! Like you, I shied away from saying I wanted to qualify for the Boston Marathon in case I didn’t make it. However, after lots of training and self determination I ran a marathon in the time required to get a number for the Boston Marathon and then acheived it also. My dream fulfilled! Good luck with your goals and never underestimate the value of the human heart and mind in unison!
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CONGRATS, Holly!!! It’s so exciting you’re pursing your Olympic dreams. You’re the most famous SUMMIT person I know!!
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Holly, Congrats on confronting head on the hardest part of athletics, facing that “fear of failure” and not committing fully because of it. Too many of us can relate to that. No matter if you make the Olympics or not, you are definitely a winner! Good Luck!
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Holly, I understand the “O” word. I was an elite athlete in track and field throughout high school and college and planned to train for the 2008 Olympics and got into a car accident in ’06 got heathly after a year and a half of rehab then accidently pregnant with twins due in ’08 that ended up in surgery and 3.5 months of bed rest. Needless to say I didn’t get to tryout or even train to try out for the team and not for lack of trying even though I was on no sleep and trying to breastfeed twins, but I still want to get back into the discus to throw for 2016 possibly 2020. I figure 2012 is out because I don’t plan to have any more kids and I want to enjoy them in their younger years since I have the opportunity. I hate telling people that I want to go to the Olympics or that I am training because it puts a big scary expectation out there especially when people say oh whats your name I will watch for you…ick, but you have to say it like you said or your realization/visualization is not fully confident or realized. I am not verbalizing my desire to anyone right now because 2016 seems so far away, but I write it down and think about it constantly. Best wishes!
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Go for it Holly! As a competitive cyclist and coach for over a decade I understand how difficult the TOTAL commitment be. Best of luck and remember to always ask yourself- “can I go harder?” I’ll be looking for you next year.
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So inspiring… I wish you all the luck in the world. Thank you for sharing your story.
I missed out on some potential accomplishments by not facing my fears and voicing my goals earlier in life when my athletic career in Nordic skiing was at its prime. I made up for lost time, though, in my thirties and early forties by setting and achieving some goals in cycling and Nordic skiing that were a “reach”, but attainable with hard work, desire and a positive mental attitude. I am so happy that I put myself on the line and I believe that I am a better person for it.
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Wow-what ambition! Go for it!!!!You will never regret it.
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How wonderful! I will look for you at Vancouver. All of you APU coaches could be Olympians!
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