Little Big Dreams.
The importance of having Little Big Dreams…
Some people, especially those who have met me recently, perhaps only associate me with writing, as my debut novel A little of Chantelle Rose a romantic comedy / cosy mystery has just been published. However my lifelong passion has always been sport. I played competitive tennis up until the age of fifteen, when I then switched to middle distance running after being scouted out by an athletics coach at a Surrey Schools Athletics championships. I had a long career in sport, reaching national and international level and still actively participates in Triathlon races and enjoy outdoor activities. I won a sports scholarship to Boston College. After a period in Boston, I returned to the UK and graduated from Loughborough University with a degree in PE and Sports Science. So why am I telling you about this now?
Due to injury and various other external factors I had to abandon my sports career in my early twenties. I had a dream, but it didn’t come true. Ask any athlete what their dream is and they will simply reply “Get to the Olympics.” But of course, simple as it is to say it, the dream is harder to achieve. In fact, you have a one in a million chance of getting to the Olympics. But despite this dream not coming true, I’ve learnt the importance of having little dreams to challenge me and inspire me.
Three years ago, after a 14 year break in competitive sport I discovered that the Duathlon World Championships were to be held in Spain, where I currently live. Something stirred inside of me. Could I possibly classify in the age-group category after so long outside of competitive sport? Did I still have it in me to push myself beyond my comfort zone?
On the 2nd June 2014 I posted the following paragraph on Facebook
“Yesterday I came 5th in the Duathlon World Championships, age-group. I didn’t come away with a medal, but I came away with my own personal fairy-tail. 8 months ago I got my bike out again, for the first time since 2000, and the journey began. It’s been a hard eight months of training, most sessions at 5.40 am. before work and the school run. Struggling with a knee injury since Feb, which has made me cut back on almost all run training and causing a lot of doubts in my mind as to whether or not I should continue, but I did and I’m glad. If you have a dream, you find the time and the way to make it real. Sometimes what’s hard is finding a dream.”
And this is what I want to share with you. The importance of dreams in life. I doesn’t have to be winning a race, rather taking part. Competing against yourself rather than others. It doesn’t even have to be associate with sport. It could be writing that book. Learning to play the piano. Finally getting into the down dog yoga position without pulling your hamstring! Just simple things to keep you motivated, which will in turn lead to personal satisfaction. But I do advise in making these aspirations realistic.
Anyway, after this participation at the World Duathlon Championships I’ve had serious stomach problems which has prompted me, once again, to cut back on all serious training and racing. To cut a long story short, three years on, after various tests, it seems I’m lactose intolerant. It’s a struggle for me to go for long runs with out causing sever stomach cramp, despite being on a lactose free diet and of course , now with my debut novel which has just been released and all that that comprises, I just don’t have the time for any serious training anyway. But I’ve been told that the World Veteran Athletics Championships are to be held very close to where I live in September of 2018. How can I resist? But will I make it? Will I be able to classify despite my injuries and low physical form right now?
I’d like to invite you on my journey. As of this coming autumn I will share this adventure with you. And how you can actively participate with me. I don’t mean that you’ll all have to compete with me at the World Championships, but you can follow my guidelines on how you can achieve a certain level of fitness from scratch, enjoy a simple and easy exercise regime. I hope to inspire you to enjoy sport as I do. And with your help by actively following me on my journey you will also aid to inspire me to achieve my next dream, to qualify and compete at the World Athletic Veteran Championships.
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I dream about running…and I run to achieve my dreams…
