I'm all about inspiring others to reach higher and understand their sport better, whether that's in terms of training, racing, nutrition, or mental preparation. One new way for me to make that happen is through an online Athlete Network I'm now part of. It's a group of 20+ elite rowers from the US and Canada that are creating a virtual community to inspire the rest of the rowing/athletic world. Each of us is sharing information, best practices, and stories about the sport and life as a full-time athlete. We're also going to be doing workshops, where people get to talk to us and ask questions face-to-face on a Google Hangout. I'm really excited to learn from my teammates and see what we can all create individually and as a whole. To get access to all of it, just sign up to be an "insider" on the site.
The flip side to inspiring others is having others inspire me. Often times when I speak at events, like the one I went to yesterday at a Running for a Better Oakland, I am so impressed by young, up-and-coming athletes. RBO is a free, nonprofit club in Oakland that trains kids for 5ks, half marathons, and marathons. I'd heard a lot about the program from its director, who I've known for some time now, but I'd never seen the whole thing in action. The club draws over 300 kids in Oakland, regardless of background, motive, age, or socioeconomic status down to the lake on a Saturday mornings to run. I felt the excitement and positivity of the morning as kids got ready for their runs and saw the incredible support of the volunteers organizing and motivating the kids. But some of them didn't need motivation; I heard numerous first graders saying in the most normal and nonchalant way that they were about to run ten miles. Awesome!
I'm inspired by these girls for so many reasons - one of which is that they ran 10 miles yesterday!
5k kids warming up with some leg swings
