If you are losing faith in human nature, go out and watch a marathon.
Kathrine SwitzerRead
There is an expression among even the most advanced runners that getting your shoes on is the hardest part of any workout
Interpretation
The hardest part of exercising is often just getting started.
This quote highlights the common struggle many face with motivation to begin a workout. It suggests that once the initial hurdle of preparing oneself, such as putting on workout shoes, is overcome, the rest of the workout becomes much more manageable and enjoyable. It underscores the importance of taking the first steps toward achieving a goal.
In practice
In a motivational speech about fitness at a local gym.
If you are losing faith in human nature, go out and watch a marathon.
You have to live your life as if you are already where you want to be.
Ask me to play. I'll play. Ask me to shoot. I'll shoot. Ask me to pass. I'll pass. Ask me to steal, block out, sacrifice, lead, dominate. Anything. But it's not what you ask of me. It's what I ask of myself.
You can't lose your concentration at all. And there are times when you're on the stage, and you've got silence, which is wonderful, but you have to have the confidence to make you realize it's fine. You can't suddenly wobble and think, 'They're not interested.'
Throughout my athletic career, the overall goal was always to be a better athlete than I was at the moment β whether next week, next month or next year. The improvement was the goal. The medal was simply the ultimate reward for achieving that goal.
I have a slogan I use when I get anxious writing, which happens quite a bit: βthe ordeal is part of the commitment.β Itβs one of my mantras. It makes a lot of things doable.
Of course there are moments that you wonder how long you should be doing it because there are other aspects which are not nice, of this lifestyle. But I just love winning.
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