The Thrill of Victory

As a trainer, I love being at the gym. I enjoy the environment, the people, everything about it. But there’s another group of athletes that have always held a special place in my heart. The average lot of them has never set foot in a gym and probably never will during their lifetimes. Yet they train hard; they push their body to its physical limits, exerting all of their mental focus and energies to accomplish their goals. And for most of them, it’s not so much the winning but the very act of doing, of participating that is equated with victory.

One of my favorite times of the year is in the early spring when this special group of athletes gathers at local track and field stadiums to exhibit their skills and receive the reward of their valiant efforts. Each of these athletes has his or her own unique set of challenges and problems, whether it’s a physical or mental handicap. These are the athletes of the Special Olympics and they have brought more joy to my heart than any other group of people I’ve trained.

My favorite moment that is seared into my heart and mind was when I was volunteering at a local Special Olympics track meet. These are the fun meets for the average competitor, not those headed to the big time Special Olympics. It was a gorgeous spring day, sunny with a mild breeze, and I occupied my favorite volunteer post: hugger. My job was to wait at the finish line and hug the participants as they crossed, offering my congratulations.

The day went off without a hitch and the final heat of the final race was approaching. It was the 50-yard dash, just enough time and distance for these athletes to garner some serious speed. All of the racers had crossed the finish line save for this one girl who was totally unaware of her position in the race. She was plugging away with a huge grin plastered across her face. She approached nearer and nearer to where I stood but was making no effort to slow down. I took a few steps backward, she continued.

Before I go on with the story, you need to know that this was not a little girl, she had some bulk and was carrying it full speed towards me. As she approached the finish line, with a squeal of excitement, she leap off the ground and into my arms. I’m pretty strong, but this girl took me down in her sheer delight. I had never quite had a hug like this, and though she was dead last, I’ll never forget her utter joy at simply finishing the race.

If You Dig It, Share It.

I spent a lot of time creating this free resource. If you appreciated it, I would really love it if you can share it with someone.

• Tweet about it.
• Comment Below
• Email this page to a friend.
• Stumble, digg, reddit... this page
• Or link to this page on your blog.

To Your Success,

P.S. Want to Make More Money and Work Less hours? Simply fill out the form below to grab loads of free tips like this one just by putting your name and e-mail in the boxes below...
Name:
Email:

We promise never to share the information you provide us.

Wanna Read Some More Great Posts?

Five Great Reasons to Organize a Fitness Boot Camp Today Running a fitness boot camp is always a good idea. But it’s especially a good (and profitable!) idea...

Fitness Boot Camps: Can They Help Your Business? The fastest way to attract new clients and collect plenty of profits for your fitness business is with...

The Secret And The Law Of Attraction The Law of Attraction is a universal law which states that our lives depend on our thoughts and emotions....

As Tech Trends Grow and Expand, Personal Trainer Jobs Boom As Science Fiction Becomes Science Fact, Personal Trainer Jobs Are Increasingly Important More of...

What Do You Think Of This Article?

I'd love to hear your thoughts and feedback. Post your comment below.