CONNECT: August 1, 2014

Knee-deep in the Good Stuff......

Spoiler Summary - Strip away the reservations and anyone can do the extraordinary......even without magic.  Of course, being surrounded by thousands of people pooling their energy helps.

Imagine if there was a place where thousands of healthy and fit people convened each year to challenge themselves and at the same time to celebrate in the achievement of others.  Imagine a place where people from all over the world showed up, each with a set of personal challenges they've had to overcome to get there, however are still ready to face additional challenges as part of authoring the next chapter in their journey.  Imagine a place where health and fitness was not the end-goal, but the beginning....the norm.  

How would a place like this influence us?  Would we want to get up and MOVE more frequently or more vigorously?  Would we find ourselves thinking a little more about our FUEL choices?  Would we want to learn more about the delicate balance needed to RECOVER from the effort?  Would we standby amazed, wondering if we could possibly ENDURE such a challenge in the first place?  When it was all over, would we gravitate toward the place again in the future with the hope of another moment to CONNECT to such an amazing environment and the amazing people in it?  

Speaking only for myself - YES!  Although it's been 5 years since I fell in love with the idea of Ironman and Ultra-distance Triathlon, it wasn't until I saw the relatively small town of Lake Placid, NY come to life last year on Ironman weekend that I really understood the magic created when people, all ready to play an active role in an extraordinary experience, show up at the same place and time.  Whether it's the folks (some in the wild costumes) shouting encouragement for hours, or the ones who show up to quietly volunteer; whether it's the professionals who set an increasingly high bar or those at the back of the pack giving it every ounce of energy they have to get across the finish line before midnight (the cutoff), the energy is infectious.....enough so to bring me back again this year, this time to compete.

For some, the idea of pushing oneself for (up to) 17 hours probably seems ridiculous.....and admittedly, if taken at face value, despite having done this distance, I tend to agree; but when you see it up close and personal, it's so much more than a story of 17 hours of continuous exercise.  It's people putting all of themselves into something they care about.  It's people being totally and completely engaged in their goal.  It's people getting past their fears, anxieties and doubts to step up to a challenge very few (on the grand scheme) will conquer.  It's people doing and witnessing something extraordinary.....and everyone there knows it.  HERE's a little glimpse: notice the energy of the crowd.....all there, at midnight, greeting the very last person with a hero's welcome.  Magical.

Of course, it's not only athletic endeavors that brings this energy out of us......it doesn't only happen in Lake Placid, and it's definitely not only found in triathlon.......swim-bike-run just happens to be exhausting enough to strip away the outer shell and expose the essence of human drive and our very deep and very human capacity to support others along the way.  Undoubtedly, this type of CONNECT can be found and (although not without effort) created just about anywhere, because all it takes is a group of people pursuing life with passion.....a group of people working hard to achieve something they weren't sure possible and celebrating the effort and trials along the way.

Although (admittedly) I don't really want to be the last finisher, I'm super excited to once again be inspired by the magic of this weekend firsthand....I'm super excited for additional members of the Pro-Activity team to experience that same energy......and I'm super excited at the idea of us leveraging it in support of anyone who is ready to get past their fears, anxieties and doubts and get in pursuit of their passion.....because whether it's athletic achievement, healthy living or prevention on the job, when the right formula is executed in the right environment, anyone can be part of something amazing.....and since the world can always use more amazing.....everyone should.

Now go do something extraordinary,

Mike Eisenhart, PT