The local gym isn’t exactly the equivalent of the Olympic Training Center, but suffice to say there are a few similarities this time of year.
For one thing, I’m surrounded by lots of like-minded people with various athletic goals in mind, whether it’s training for something or simply striving for a healthier lifestyle.
Then there’s the fact that it just might be colder here in Kansas than it is at the Winter Olympics in Vancouver right now.
Also consider that Olympic athletes can be seen on the TV screens all over the gym right now, so — in some stretch of the imagination — I’m surrounded by Olympians.
Sure, it’s a bit of a stretch to call this the OTC, but whatever. The fact of the matter is the Winter Olympics have provided an ideal source of inspiration to ramp up the intensity of training to climb Kilimanjaro. Every athlete has a story. Every one of them has pushed through physical pain much greater than mine to reach their goals.
I’m getting too old for this. You’re not that old. Apolo Anton Ohno is just two years younger and chose to put himself back into training to make a third trip to the Olympics.
My knees hurt. So what. Hannah Kearney tore her ACL three years ago, rehabbed her knee and won the gold medal in the moguls.
Climbing to 19,340 feet might be dangerous. Dangerous? Tell that to Shaun White.
It’s easy to make excuses and let fatigue or laziness take control. Thankfully, these gym walls are filled with screens of inspiring Olympians, making it just a bit easier to stay on the bike or Stairmaster a little bit longer, watch one more race or one more run down the slopes and push the body harder than it originally wanted to go.
Chris Wristen 