Inspiration Friday ….The Road To The Junior Olympics

 
          Lolo Jones  a Champion in all seasons 

This weekend marks the beginning of the journey to the JO’s. Whether USATF Junior Olympics or AAU Junior Olympic Games thousands of us will begin  the process of going to the JO’s.

 We parents will support ,cheer  and hope with ”all good intentions“our kids” to the next level this summer.

It’s a love hate dance,we love watching our kids succeed, we hate the heat , expense  and time for the opportunity to have the chance of a top 8 medalist or maybe even if things work just right a Natioinal Champion in our midst .  This is track and field, one season rides into the next and slowly builds a lasting legacy for our athletes and their accomphishments.

As much as we can be PC and say it’s about fun….It’s about winning too. Winning is fun and hopefully along the season’s road there was opportunity to win in heats with no final, in practice and in the loving look you give your child just for trying her best. But JO’s is about the ultimate  competitive level in the youth track arena. Simply, Speed is King and JO’s Crowns and appaludes it.

Winning of course isn’t just the person who crosses first. It is achieving a new personal best, breaking the barrier of the first time they made a top 8 final. Feeling satisfied as a parent and athlete that the best effort and reward were gained. The races mean different things to different people. No one shows up to lose but 99% will in the strictest sense of the word. If our definition of what winning ultimately is for us is fulfillment of your best effort that day there will be many winners,actually they all are my virtue of being the best competitor they can be. First place athletes don’t always stay  there and neither do the lower place finishers.

No one wins all the time and the best winner has to thank a lose  along the road for the current success. Winning isn’t so sweet with out a place of perspective. the reason why it is so special…. Losing (not winning a race) gives us this special gift of appreciation when the time is just right.

So here’s to winning and losing this JO season and the perspective it carries with it.

Here is one of my favorite videos featuring the gracious fastest Women of the hurdles Lolo Jones on losing In Beijing .No win in Beijing but a Champion all the same.

Related posts:

1. Inspiration Friday Videos
2. Inspiration Friday…The Performance Zone
3. Inspiration Friday!! Training Well Counts
4. A Fast Day 3 At USATF Junior Olympics 2009
5. 3.14.08 Inspiration Friday It’s Not To Early To Plan For A Record