Comments on: What Is An Athlete?

By: Catherine Dickson

Catherine Dickson — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 04:40:42 +0000

Hi Christine!

I agree with Aimee wholeheartedly in saying that an athlete goes out there and runs. An athlete, to me, is someone who carves out their own description of what it takes to celebrate their active way of fitness. Mainly as a lifestyle choice or behavior for their overall well-being: mind, body, and soul.

I’m an athlete in my own description of what that is versus what other people’s view of that may be. Again, mostly since I don’t compete against others. But rather I compete against myself. I exercise my mental and physical muscle daily and strive to stay engaged with the lifting I do creatively to avoid adaptation and to get the results I’m looking for in the muscle I carry.

People often ask me why I haven’t competed. I compete every day…I’m just in the gym doing it–setting my own stage, posing with good form, ‘clocking’ my own miles, winning my own titles. All seen and heard through the sweat and grunts of loving what I do and how I choose to do it!!!

Go out there Christine and do your thing—your way! And be ever happy with yourself for the effort and attempt you make to enjoy something physical. Especially since it makes you feel good to do so (and it’s good for you)!!!

Keep going strong! It is a journey of fitness for a lifetime, after all….:)

Like: 0

By: Aimee Gallo

Aimee Gallo — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 20:28:21 +0000

Christine;

It’s unfortunate that you took the article as a tool of comparison and a means to disown your own athleticism. My point was that being an athlete isn’t really about qualifying for the Olympics or being a certain speed or looking a certain way, it is about having the tenacity and willingness to keep going, to never give up, and to let our love of our sport carry us through the rough patches. For ten years I always looked to those who were faster, went further, had more experience as runners and called them athletes while denying myself that title. I now see that it was, as Catherine pointed out, a decision I had made that ultimately sold myself short. In my heart and mind I have chosen to now call myself an athlete.

Runners get out and run. They may be fast or slow, they may go short distances or long, but they get out and go. It’s so much more than a number or a time.
I hope that you can embrace your own inner athlete; that you can celebrate your own journey in fitness as a powerful testament to your qualification as one. We are rooting for you!

Like: 0

By: christine lewis

christine lewis — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 18:40:47 +0000

Wow.I was hopeing to get some inspiration and now I feel so ridiculous that I actually thought a “runner” was one that could run a mile in at least nine minutes.Not only do I feel like I dont even have the qualifications to referr to myself as a runner after reading your article I’m embarressed for myself that I ever have. That was hard to read now I truely feel like I will never “get”there.

Like: 0

By: Catherine Dickson

Catherine Dickson — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 01:48:02 +0000

Hi Aimee and Girls,

I can certainly relate to ‘what is an athlete’. An athlete, to me, is someone who has an undying passion for what they love to do that starts at a physical level but then becomes so much more. Giving it your all, giving it your very best with a fiery determination to continue is key. The physical and mental fuel it takes to stay in an athletic presence year round is what inspires all the people I know.

I may not be competing publically as a bodybuilder. Haven’t done so yet at 48 years old. Although my daily life in the gym resembles hard work, focus, consistency, and a real discipline that boils down to a strong love for being and staying fit.

We are the ones that decide what makes an athlete an athlete in our own minds and hearts. Discovered through the perserverance we carry out to stay (or get back into) in the sport(s) we engage in and love. :)

Like: 0

By: Stephanie

Stephanie — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 00:06:08 +0000

Hey, Jodi! It’s nice to know I’m not the only one… Do you have an email or something?

Like: 0

By: Jodi Seals

Jodi Seals — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 16:41:29 +0000

OH Stefanie…I could have written exactly what you wrote, only my s;ort was rodeo. I was a barrel racer, at the to; of my game in HS. Then I graduated, got married, had kids, losing a huge ;art of me. Now I give riding lessons and teach barrel racing, like you on the side but wanting to so badly to be what I once was. An “athlete.” I too yearn to be one with my whole heart, but life as gotten in the way. I also feel broken from the identity I used to cherish and just like you, I thought I would fail. It’s that thinking that has us in this rut. I believe we have to change the way we think in order to succeed and begin to think of ourselves as the athletes we once were and CAN BE AGAIN!!! You are not alone girl, but we CAN do it if we can just change our thinking!

Like: 0

By: Aimee Gallo

Aimee Gallo — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 05:28:44 +0000

I am so moved by how open and willing the women here are in sharing their triumphs, their losses, and their hearts. I can feel the disappointment and frustration, the hope and yearning, the joy and reward is owning and reclaiming our power in movement (I love what you said, Denise; “Life is good, exercise makes it better”).

For all those who have the calling to become or reclaim her inherent athlete; I encourage you to create a space to foster that vision. What inspires you and fills you with possibility? Create a vision board, pull out your old race bibs or jerseys, place inspiring mementos in prominent places where you can be both consciously and subconsciously reminded of your destiny. Be open and willing to consider that the right circumstances will show up for you – - just like Colette’s snow storm. Foster the potential and it will blossom!

With great respect and admiration;

Aimee

Like: 0

By: Shana Crovo

Shana Crovo — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 17:49:01 +0000

Aimee,

I so identified with your article! I was actually a late bloomer in the fitness and athlete category. I dabbled in dance, cross country, and cheer as a kid and early teen but didn’t follow through. I think it was due to the low self esteem issues that plague many teenage girls. The irony is that if I had identified myself as an athlete as a young girl it probably would have boosted my self esteem. I began running 5Ks with my mom as a teen, began teaching fitness classes at 18, a year ago began running 1/2 marathons (my 3rd is this Sunday in FL:-)) and doing triathlons. Like you and so many others that have written I still wouldn’t really call myself an athlete, but based on the definition I suppose I am! Thanks so much for sharing! I look forward to future posts:-)

Shana

Like: 0

By: Colette

Colette — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 22:30:14 +0000

I had been playing sports since I was five years old, swim team, basketball, volleyball, running then I was a wild land fighter. When I got married in my mid twenties I put that part of me on a shelf and said ok time to let that go you are a step mom and wife now. This part is so lame I would get the Athleta and Title 9 catalogs and be so jelous of the women in the catalog. So I turn 38 and I am over weight diabetic and all I want to do is to be healthy, be on a team again. What I really wanted to do was go snow shoeing (sp). If you are over a certain weight you have to buy more expensive ones. I worked out very hard and got about 20 pounds off and still my diabets is out of control so I go through the process to have gaystric bypass surgery. That was a year ago!! I have lost 85 pounds I am running about 20 miles a week. Becoming a Yoga teacher for incarcerated youth and my dear sweet husband got me snow shoes for Christmas. We had no snow until about a week ago. We were sent home early from work because of a snow storm and I was so excited because I knew I could finally use my snow shoes…. When I put those on and took off through the snow I felt a freedom and a sense of peace I had not felt in over 20 years. Strength and endurance the only reason I had to stop was because it was getting dark and our power was out because of the storm. In that moment I knew I was an athlete again and I was back intouch with that person I lost. I have promised my self that if I want to train for a race or try something new I will not let fear or other people’s needs come before my training any more.

Like: 0

By: Stephanie

Stephanie — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 12:43:10 +0000

My eyes grew to giants when I read this article title in my RSS feed. As I read it, I choked up… Like Sarah said, this article really hit home for me. I was an athlete ‘once’ in high school. I was a lacrosse player. Varsity team, captain… At that time in my life, I felt the best about myself, my achievements. I thought athletes were the sexiest, best things in the world. Their hair was tied in a mess, but their confidence shined right through. They had fully capable bodies. Nothing else mattered when I was on the field. I was one of those. After high school, high school sports stopped. I lost a huge part of myself. So much so, that every time someone asks me if I play at my college, I almost lose it. Due to time and location, I can’t play in college. Even if I could, it would end in two years. It’s been a few years since high school, and I’m still having so many problems with missing my sport, missing being an athlete. Sure, I’ll always have lacrosse in my life, but I’m a coach now- on the other side. My heart just rips open when I think of what I’ve lost. I call myself a runner, because I do run in the summer, however not regularly. I’ve run a few 5Ks. I have dreams of running a marathon. I’m not sure I think I can do it. My schedule is jam packed, but I fit in exercise at least 3 days a week. I don’t feel like an athlete, and I yearn to be one with my whole heart. I don’t know what to do. I feel broken from the identity I used to cherish, and I’d do anything to get it back… I’ve looked at definitions of athletes online, thinking of them as guidelines. If I could do all that, I could be an athlete again! But I either thought I would fail or thought the feeling would never come even if I achieved those goals. Thanks for writing this article… I’m glad to know I’m not the only one who has troubles defining themselves as an athlete.

Like: 0