Respect Your Training Partners

Training for races and events can be difficult. It's hard to get up every day and go work out. You have to be disciplined, sure of what you want, and committed. It's not for everyone.

Throughout my life, I have always felt like people let me down. I don't think they mean to, but it hurts every time it happens. I make a plan with a friend, whether it's training for a running race, basketball or triathlon. Inevitably, they tend to find other things they must do. Other pressing things. I understand if it happens once or twice, but it seems to keep happening over and over again.

Commit to Something and Follow Through

The biggest thing for me is that if you commit to something. If you promise to be there for someone, then you need to follow through. My word, my promises, are my bond. No matter what happens in my life, baring major life problems (injury, death in the family, etc) I show up. I don't understand why others take their word so lightly.

I have always been a different breed. I love to work out, to train, and to challenge my body. I work out because I truly enjoy it. Most people work out for different reasons, they work out because it is good for them and they know it can help prolong their life and prevent medical problems.

If something comes up in life for others and they aren't committed to working out, they simply don't work out or train. They choose other things, generally to my disadvantage. If I had a dollar for all the "I'm sorry" texts or simply un-replied to training texts, I would be rich.

I know I probably will always run into situations like this, but I truly thought recently that I had found a few people similarly committed to training. I was wrong. I know committed training partners are out there and I am currently on the hunt. Until then, I'll take all the sporadic training moments I can get.

Treat Your Training Partners with Respect

I know this may seem like a rant, but the point of this post is to make you think. Think about how you treat others, how you act, and react. Most of all, keep your word. It means the world to those you give it too. If you can't commit, don't make that promise. I'd much rather hear a "no" up front, then get my hopes up and get let down over and over again.

Leave the Excuses at Home

Excuses are just that, excuses. The only time I missed a basketball practice in college was when my roommate had a brain aneurism. Other girls were skipping because they were tired, sick, or hadn't finished their homework. But I never liked that excuse. Excuses don't fly with me.

I graduated Magna Cume Laude, I worked throughout college, took 16-18 credits each quarter and played on the basketball team, but I never skipped out on a promise no matter how tired I was, or what things were happening in my life. My word matters.

Ask yourself, does yours? I hope the answer is yes. If it isn't, try changing it up and only committing to things you absolutely can do.