Click here to see the "Chariot's" moment that puts todays blog in perspective. If I look back into my past…all the way back to 1983, I remember caring about being an athlete for the first time. I was in 6th grade. I had played some tennis and done swim team. I enjoyed them both but in a way of child’s play. At school, the Presidential Fitness Test was nearing. For some reading this, you may remember the misery of the test…how long could you hang(not very long), how far could you jump(not very far), how fast could you run(not very fast). Forget about the standing long jump. A few lucky ones with frog like legs would reach the furthest line that looked like it was at the other end of the planet(that’s you Cathleen). I would fail miserably, wondering how a girl the exact same height could jump so much further. I could hustle my way through sit-ups with the rest of them, but the marquee event was always the 1 mile run. After seeing “Chariots of Fire”, I envisioned myself in the last lap of the Olympic Oval. As I neared the finish, silence would ensue as I leapt in slow motion through the finish line. An explosion of cheering applause would erupt as I just eeked out the 2nd place finisher. Yes, “Chariots” stayed with me. In my own oval around the weed filled playground landscape, I was feeling my first twinge of competitive necessity. In reality, a girl with uncanny natural speed beat me handily. I vowed to never let it happen again. I created a training plan. I would start running home from school. I would meander the one mile through town, sprinting through the scary underpass near the train station and complete the workout up the big hill that brought me to my doorstep. My mother would secretly follow me. It took one full year to achieve my “Chariots” moment when I overcame the talent of one little girl with the pure will and determination from deep within myself. I had found my inner athlete. Fast forward, dare I say, 30 years. Go Far was born out of that one moment when it clicked. I would never forget the feeling of contentment of accomplishing a goal that was so hard achieved. Pushing the personal envelope, even when you’re too young to know why you’re doing it is what Go Far is all about. As our elementary students run mile after mile, I know they are finding their own “Chariots’ moment. In middle school, as doubts creep in, it becomes difficult for many to believe that the “Chariots” moment is even possible. Over the past months, I have worked at designing a new program, aimed at helping kids discover their individual potential. Go Far Extreme will introduce kids to new ways to exercise. Kids will learn the simple fundamentals of sporting and fitness. Achieving core strength and stamina will be at the heart of it. They will have the opportunity to try a number of individual pursuits: orienteering, track and field, kick boxing, hip hop dancing, boot camp, yoga, and even hula hooping. The goal is to help each child find what naturally fits so a seed of potential can be planted. As it unfolds, I welcome ideas and expertise to fill the calendar with meaningful endeavors. If we create a fencing class and one child becomes an Olympic fencer in 2024, then I’ll know that I achieved my goal in seeing the seed flower. It will be a long wait for sure, but I’m willing to wait and see. Pictured here are some shots from the Cross Fit games. As pictured, those seeds surely became massive plants for some. But it’s always about the next generation as you can also see in these shots. Here’s to your very own “Chariots of fire”.
2 Comments
Sue VanDerzee
10/25/2011 09:15:37 am
Not one to rest on your laurels, are you? Sounds exciting...
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Jennifer Schulten
10/25/2011 10:15:19 am
No rest for the weary.I think it will be fun(and a lot of work), but hopefully worth it.
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