Direct Life Coaching

I am in the last week of our 3-week family adventure in northern Michigan. It has been a terrific trip hanging with family and relaxing in the "not south Florida" summer weather. People have commented about certain days here being humid - haha - if they want to see humidity - I WILL SHOW THEM HUMIDITY!

That is about as macho as I get.

Anyway, recent and exciting news for me is that I will be expanding my coaching this Fall as the assistant soccer coach at my old college Alma mater. This will be an amazing opportunity for me to get back on campus and connect with young men while coaching the game that I love.

The only problem is - I am not exactly in college shape.

Not that I need to be as fit as I was when I was a student, but the last thing I want to do is show up and be the "old man" that can't keep up. So, with training camp starting in roughly 4-5 weeks, I have been trying to step things up.

Now, I often blog about how often I run and it is usually a time I find my best inspiration. But, going for a jog a couple times a week is apples and oranges compared to running around a soccer field with 20-year olds for 3 hours.

You need to run the hill!

So, for the past three weeks or so - I have been running everyday in attempt to get myself in better shape. I have run longer distances, as well as mixing it up with sprint runs and plyometric strength training. Yeah, I am still sore.

But, none of those compare to running the hill! The dreaded hill (seen in the picture above). I knew the hill was waiting for me here in Michigan - and there was nothing I could do to escape it. The hill waits, it taunts me - and I know I have no choice but to run the hill.

So, for the last 8 days...I have run the hill. Okay, so the hill is part of a dirt road that overlooks Lake Bellaire. The hill itself is about 1/4 long, maybe less - but it feels like a lot more. It is steep, with soft dirt most of the way, and it gets steeper the closer you get to the top. The hill comes about 1/2 mile into the run - and then once you get to the top - you still have over 2 miles left. But, at that point, the worst is behind you.

I am loving the hill!

Knowing I was coming up here for a week and a half - I had been dreading the hill. The first couple of days were tough, but now that I have completed the 8th consecutive day - I am loving the hill. I need the hill. The hill has been pushing me - and each run the hill has become less and less intimidating - less scary. The result is that I know I am a lot better off than I was 8 days ago - and it has been a huge boost for my confidence.

What is your hill?

I will be completely honest here. When I was in college, I didn't have the discipline to get in shape to the level I needed to be in. I talked myself into thinking I was really in shape, but I really never was. It was never glaring on the field - but I knew. Back then - there were plenty of hills in my life I was too scared to climb. The goal I wanted to achieve as a player was important to me - but there were some hills I needed to climb (literally and figuratively) to be that player, and I didn't do it. Ouch!

My guess is that there are plenty of us out there who would love to do something special with their life - but there may be some hills that appear too scary. It is much easier to say, " That time has passed," or "It's just not that easy right now." We all have valid excuses like bills that need to paid, taking care of our kids, work obligations - etc. etc. etc. etc. etc. etc.

These are just hills. They look real scary and daunting - and maybe they really are - but what lies beyond those hills might be worth the climb. And even if you don't achieve your ultimate goal - you will still be a better person for taking on those hills. And remember, you don't need to take on all of those hills at once...

Just pick a hill - and start running!

In his book "The Inner Game of Tennis," Timothy Gallwey describes the true benefit of competition and what it means to embrace the tough challenge of a competitor. He writes, "Reaching the goal itself may not be as valuable as the experience that can come in making a supreme effort to overcome the obstacles involved. The process can be more rewarding than the victory itself." He later adds, "In the use of competition it is the duty of your opponent to create the greatest possible difficulties for you, just as it is yours to create obstacles for him. Only by doing this do you give each other the opportunity to find out what heights each can rise."

That is why I am loving my hill!

In reality, the hill I have been running up here is nothing to write a book about (just a blog), but it has allowed me to look up at bigger hills and think, "Yeah, I could do that!" I need these hills to make me better. These hills are making me better. If I got a call tomorrow telling me the soccer coaching had fallen through - it doesn't take away the little lessons I have been learning over the past few weeks.

The outcomes may change - but the lessons we learn in taking on the obstacles will never leave us empty-handed. So what are you waiting for?

I have one day left here in northern Michigan - so I get one last day to climb the hill - and them move on.

Bring on the next hill!

Much love!

Travis
561.676.4583

Labels: direct life coaching, life coaching, life coaching Travis Thomas, The Inner Game of Tennis