Comments on: On being an athlete: Why do we believe we can’t do it?

By: Toan

Toan — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 06:17:55 +0000

I just say you are amazing!
“if they can do it, so can I.
So shut up, voice. I can be an athlete too.”
Two sentences i will remember.

By: Lola

Lola — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 15:17:32 +0000

Such a solid piece JoAnna, and one we can all relate to on many levels.

For me, I’ve always been a team player – soccer & rugby – for many, many years.

Once I retired from rugby, I’ve been struggling to find that extra push to be an independent athlete….as opposed to a team athlete.

Really don’t know what’s stopping me. I think my “short legs” excuse for not taking up running is beginning to run out its course.

By: Lianne

Lianne — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 08:20:53 +0000

Great article Joanna.

Valid point: ‘They’re built to move and explore. It’s our minds that tell us what we can’t do.’

I recently completed a marathon, for someone who hated/couldn’t run!

By: Linda

Linda — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 03:46:35 +0000

Yes! I love this piece, Joanna.

I just quit trying with the ball sports after ninth grade. Making a ball go in any kind of goal – forget it. But making my body go towards a goal, that I can do. I never was a fast runner, and it appears that I’m also a slow biker, but I’ll plug along until I get where I’m going.

I heard a lot of, “I could never run a marathon,” too. Well, you could if you wanted to – I’m definitely not special. I might not advise you to run a marathon after running for 8 years, though. My knees hate me.

By: JoAnna

JoAnna — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 03:38:33 +0000

I think it often is in our heads, and doing something for the first time definitely helps alleviate some fears. But there are some things that are almost irrational, and that’s what I struggle with. Why can’t I jump off of the high dive? Why do I think I can’t swim a quarter of a mile? Why can’t I just put my skis forward and go down the bunny hill?

Once I do these things, though, there is definitely a sense of accomplishment. And as I do these things more often, it seems easier to try new things.

By: Spencer Spellman

Spencer Spellman — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 16:45:21 +0000

Great piece Joanna! I believe it was Marianne Williamson who said: “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.” I believe your remarks can really be made about a lot of things that some people undertake, but many people choose not to.

It’s that great leap of faith, jumping to the unknown and coming out of our comfort zone that scares us.

By: Adam Roy

Adam Roy — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 16:31:06 +0000

Nice piece, JoAnna! My problem growing up was that I never had the composure to try really tough or scary-looking physical things, like triathlons, backcountry skiing, or rock climbing. I think it was always the fear that held me back. I was afraid of pain, of losing control, or of getting hurt.

I found what helped was to just do really frightening things until I got used to them and started to enjoy it. I think as long as you know you won’t completely panic, terrifying yourself is usually a good idea. Anyway, after the first time you do a deep dive or take a lead fall, you usually find out that it was mostly in your head.

By: JoAnna

JoAnna — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 13:48:55 +0000

I know how you feel Julie. I never made it to first base when I played t-ball, and even in college when I was on an intramural softball team, I was only there to as a warm body. My job on the intramural flag football team was to stand perfectly still and let people run into me so that they would have fouls called on them. Yeah … no fun.

I think that’s why I generally gravitate toward individual sports – running, cycling, etc. This way, there’s no one else waiting on me. I’m the only one judging my abilities. I’m a pretty harsh critic, but if I can go just one more step, then I’m knocking that voice inside.

By: JoAnna

JoAnna — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 13:32:49 +0000

Rock on Joel! Good luck and have fun!

By: Julie

Julie — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 13:05:08 +0000

JoAnna-

I loved this essay and it totally resonated with me. As a kid, I was pretty clumsy (still am) and I wasn’t a good performer athletically, so I was always picked last for team sports or games during phys ed classes. I played tee-ball for a while (a year, maybe) and was so accustomed to being the kid that everyone hated to see at bat. So the messages I received over and over and over were “You’re just not good enough. You can’t do this. There’s no way you can better.” And worst: “We don’t want you.”

There was never an adult to interrupt that narrative. What I learned was that my body somehow wasn’t good enough and that I wasn’t athletic. Everything was competitive- there were no lessons being taught about just enjoying the physicality and the possibilities of our bodies, which makes me profoundly sad today.

As an adult, I still struggle a lot with what those early experiences left me with and how they shaped me. When I read about other Matador editors snowboarding or heliskiing or marthoning or whatever, I’m always slightly in awe of them. And I always feel sad for myself, as if I can’t (or maybe just don’t know) how to get started… all of which is complicated somewhat by the fact that I had back surgery when I was 16 so I do have some real physical limitations.

But still….