I started today with a swim at The Edge in South Burlington. They have a nice 8 lane, 25-yard pool that I favor over others in the area, partly because it has windows on the east side of the pool and when the sun comes up and shines into the water it always makes me feel good. I'm a regular at this pool, which means that I know most of the other regulars who swim there. This morning I met a guy who've I seen there frequently over the last couple of years. I didn't know his name and we've never spoken, but he's in fantastic shape and swims hard; when he's in the water you know he's there because the energy level is definitely higher.
As we chatted today he mentioned that the pool seemed busier than normal, that there seemed to be some folks congregating to train for a triathlon. Then he asked me if I was training for a triathlon. I admitted that it's my sport and that I was getting ready for Ironman Lake Placid in July. He thought that was pretty exciting and we talked about staying in shape as we get older, it turns out that we're about the same age. As we parted ways to head off to work he told me I was an inspiration to him.
Now I don't really think of myself as inspirational and that is certainly not something we hear much at work, at home, or most other places in this modern world. I'm serious about triathlon - I have goals, train hard, and I make an effort to try to have fun while I'm doing it. I aspire to improve, to go as fast as I possibly can, and I have a dream of racing at the Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii. Having aspirations and acting on them, committing to them, apparently may make you an inspiration to others.
I walked out of the gym this morning with a smile on my face, a bounce in my step, and the thought that it would be great if we all took the time to learn what each of us aspires to and then allowed ourselves to be inspired by those we see, meet, or interact with each day.
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