I know this is always something that needs to be taken with a thought process that allows you a learning curve that is outside an obvious physical exertion but the relationship between the thought and the action is very conected
TRIATHLON SUICIDE TREATMENT
If you have been following the Hamburg triathlon World championships you would have read of some great results and up lifting stories.
Keeping with the theme of why do we do what we do what is the motivation for our desire to achieve in the sporting arena.
What is an easy task to some is the steepest mountain to others.
Things that are taken for granted by the majority of people as a bedrock of life are non existent for others, that includes the ability to be in control of your thought and actions.
When we struggle at times to get out of bed for an early morning ride or training session and that little voice says just another couple of minutes, what if that voice was screaming at you obscenities telling you of your worthlessness and not being able to shut it of.
I came across Anne Garton’s story she had submitted to triathlon.org as a age group story about their triathlon history, what a chilling tale.
Anne Garton is a Triathlete from Brisbane Queensland
She was the Golden Girl. Everything she touched turned to gold. Graduating DUX of her high school. she also won every sporting trophy the school offered, and succeeded at inter-school athletics carnivals.
At university she won four academic awards and graduated with Distinction. After university, she joined the Queensland Police Service – and was DUX again at the
About this time is where the wheels stated to fall of andthe statistic: One in five Australians will experience some form of mental illness in their lifetime.
Started to show up as Anne says “Mental illness does not discriminate. Mental illness is real. It does happen. But I didn’t’t think it could happen to me…”
It” started two months after graduating from the
“It” was like a thousand voices were screaming in her head. The noise was agony, and many times a day she would fall to the floor, clutching clutching her head – screaming silent screams. Screaming and screaming and screaming…
Voices screaming. “You must obey me or you will be killed. All the children get killed. You are evil. You belong to the devil, you must be crucified for your sins…”
she would watch thousands of cockroaches and maggot pouring out of her mouth and nose. Dead people lying on her bed.
Blood pouring down the walls of her house.
Codes and numbers repeating thousands of times in mind.
Suicide again became her escape – she had to make it stop. Pills did’t work so she tried gassing herself in the car in the middle of the bush. The pipe fell off and she was left unconscious in the bush for days. She tried gassing again, but the heat from the exhaust pipe melted the hosepipe.
she poisoned her body with every pill, chemical or drug she could find. she was that desperate.
her half dead body would be found in different locations around
I think you would be getting the picture
this was not a person trying to seek attention Anne desperately wanted to shut the voices off and suicide was the only way she could see that it would happen
Her family did not expect her to live.
Her doctors did not expect her to live. No one did. So all they could do for months was to lock her up on 24-hour suicide watch.
After an attempt to hang her self in the hospital bathrooms that was thwarted by a nurse, the next day, the nurse who cut her down, gave her a piece of paper and told her to write a wish-list. she wrote a list called: “Things I Wished To Do Before I Turned Thirty”.
“Top of my list was “To compete in a triathlon”. It had always been a fantasy of mine and it was the hardest thing I could think off – I could’t swim or ride a bike!
I was rock bottom and had nothing to lose. So I did it. As simple as that - I did it.
And this was when my life changed:
Before I could even swim one lap of the pool or turn the pedal of the bike, I had to fight my mind. And I mean fight!!! I have to push past the loud voices and screaming/horrific roar in my head, push past the hallucinations; push past the paranoia, confusion, and overwhelming apathy, zero self-esteem, crippling depression… an endless list.
Wow does getting out of bed early for a training session seem so hard when you read this type of thing
“I had to fight doctors and nurses Their words, and I quote:
“Unhealthy obsession”;
Disbelief. – “Mentally ill people not well enough or capable of doing something as strenuous as triathlon.”
But I was too determined, refusing to accept their ban on triathlon.”
Even when seriously unwell, she still trained – everyday. If she was locked up, her mother would come and chaperon her to training – she would sit beside the pool or running track whilst Anne trained.
And on race days, she would get special permission to leave the hospital to attend the races.
And guess what happened:
She won the Queensland Triathlon State Titles – she won the whole series for 2004/2005 race season. She was the fastest person in
To quote Anne in her tale
“Little old me had won a State Championship Series! Little old me had succeeded in a normal person’s world, despite being really ill and in hospital!!!”
Why is she so determined, why does she refuse to quit despite significant illness?
Anne puts it this way
“Not because I have won races, medal, or even representing
What a powerful motivation to be on a race track, to be a participant in life. To be at a place where your next moment is uncertain,dictated to you by some affliction not of your own choice, you come to appreciate life and its simple pleasures.
Anne goes on to say
Triathlon gave me an identity other than that of “mentally ill” or “disability pensioner”. When people ask me now, “what do you do”, I say, “I am a triathlete”.
Triathlon taught me self-discipline – self-disciple to attend training sessions as we train twice/three times a day. Self discipline as in a healthy diet, and abstaining from drugs and alcohol.
Triathlon taught me not to be a victim. For too many years, I had played victim –“poor me” syndrome - letting it rule my life and control my behaviors. I had given up and was resigned to the fact that I was permanently going to be unwell, permanently incapacitated and destined to a lifetime of illness, suicidality, and no hope.”
Life throws at you some real curve balls
you never are certain about what is to dawn the next day indeed the only certainty about life IS change
The twist in this tale is that at the same time as giving Anne an anchor to life it has helped the larger picture of mental health issues by setting Anne on another direction than the Qld police force that she first loved
She travel saround
Her goal is to educate people about mental illness and providing a positive a role model to other people who experience mental illness…. Showing that no barrier is too high; that it is possible to set goals and have dreams. If she can do it, so can they! Anything is possible.
She also sit on mental health committees, selection panels, reference groups, working parties, and consumer advisory groups.
She is also about to start with a new youth education program called “Game of Life” – where Brisbane Lions players, Qld Firebird players and Anne, go into youth detention cent res, and troubled schools etc, working intensively with young people in the areas of drugs, alcohol and mental health.
But her biggest dream had always been to go back to the
She has her intention, goals, desire, and belief
“Everything I have spoken about began with triathlon. Thanks to my triathlon journey:
I now have hope:
I know that whatever life throws at me, I WILL survive.
I know there is “the other side” (chocolate).
I know setbacks are only short-term, and manageable. I am resilient.
But most of all, I know that my mental illness does NOT control my life – I do!!!
And despite the ravages of illness, I have found something that makes me truly happy.
Triathlon is my chocolate.
And I hope that you find your chocolate too…
INVITE YOU TO
And I hope that when you go back to work on Monday… you start helping your clients/patients find their chocolate too. They don’t need to be an elite athlete or start running 10K’s per day… it’s about finding the spark, whatever it is, the smallest thing that brings a life to their eyes when they talk about it. And with that sparks comes hope.
For all of us when life gets at you and things do not seem as if the world or anybody else cares, its the deep look inside and commitment to the change that is
the spotlight of hope.
I do talk with knowledge of what Anne is speaking of you can read the full story at www.triathlon.org
TRIATHLON MOTIVATION WHERE DO YOU GET IT
I do not know the guy or his training methods but at first you got to be wondering what is the message, we as a reading public supposed to get after you read news reports such as,
Rick Hellard one of Canada’s top triathletes at age 41 sometimes wonders how he does it, especially given his diet and pre-and post-race care.
his preference for fast-food products,
“I eat nachos, hamburgers and potato chips,” at the present time letting the little things slide certainly hasn’t hurt his ability to swim smooth, cycle hard and run fast in the grueling Ironman. After winning the Canadian Ironman on Sept. 1 in a record time of eight hours 57 minutes 57 seconds.
But wait there’s more.
“I don’t get massages and I don’t stretch,” said the 5-8, 147-pound Hellard, the coach of 60 multi-sport athletes and 50 swimmers.
So where am I going with this. Out of all the known parameters of sporting ability,genetic inheritance, there is that… EX …..factor the distance of the champion training track
The bit between the ears
He goes on to say Simply, it’s because of dedication and hard work.
He was surprised by his performance at the Canadian.
“That would be an understatement,” an upbeat Hellard said in an interview this week. “Guys I train with beat me up on the roads, but in races I shift into the next gear.
Hey don’t get me wrong any one who does these sorts of numbers at races is obviously got something good going on, Hellard is then quoted as saying
” I hope I’m not like a light bulb that burns bright just before burning out.”
….Hmmn..? that is not an uncommon result even for Ironman participants I wonder what else is the factor behind his success.
he goes on to state that
A cautious and conservative approach, respecting the distances, and competing without much rest
by useing a similar approach last year and it worked. in Montreal for his 8:41:14, possibly the world’s third fastest time ever by a 40-plus triathlete.
So what is working for Rick does not mean the dieatry princables he adhears to is correct, or the training regime he has, is the winning one for you.
The greatest thing you may be able to get from it all is that he is well in tune with his body and this has come from a few years of training and adjusting for his own set of guiding principles, examaining the reasons why he is the sort of person that he is, and knowing the motivation that keeps him at his level of competitiveness
“I’ve known for a while that I’m a slow starter in terms of fitness,”
“I hate riding indoors and it takes me a while to find my bike legs. When I’m more serious in the late summer and fall, I get more dedicated.”
“I’ve blown up enough times. I get tired of blowing up. I know what I can do in training. I have incredible days training when I’m more relaxed. I’m more relaxed, more cautious now (in Ironmans). In some races, I was my own worst enemy. Now, I do it holding back.”
Rick is the coach at
Zone3sports an Ottawa based triathlon coaching service that has achieved amazing success at the long distance triathlon.
Maybe I have some issues with advocating the eating regime that he does, the statement of intent for his charges at
Zone3sports’
-
keep them healthy;
-
make sport a part of their life, not just a phase;
-
get them to the start line healthy, rested and ready to go;
-
get them to the finish as quickly as possible.I agree with whole heartily and applaud that sort of mentality it is only good for our multi- sport image and does set the ground work for a lasting platform for people to take as a springboard into getting the most they can out of the participation of life Okay so what is YOUR motivation where are you in your quest, let us keep examining why you want to be there and how to get the connection to your dreams and aspirations
STEVE FOSSET ADVENTURE MISSING
It is not triathlon based or technically sport but I have a great deal of admiration for people who step up to life to be counted rather than sit back and watch it happen I think this guy has shown he has that spirit I hope they find him okaybr>nbsp
TRAINING STARTS AND FINISHES IN THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE EARS
I have received a bit of flack lately about what seems to be coming across to people as bashing people who are not the perfect shape for Triathlon well this isn’t the case.
As this is my sport I comment on the things I see and the possible implications it has for the long term viability of it.
I would never discourage a person to get out there and be the best they can be at any chosen endeavour they pick.
The point I am trying to make is that there is an abundance of misinformation on what is good training and what works.
To get even more controversial I have a great degree of scepticism of shoe manufactures, sports drink peddlers, and a whole lot of issues that are subject to the big business syndrome of follow the money.
All sports go through the ups and downs of what is in flavour.
A TV publicized world Championships has to attract sponsors so there must be some sort of product to sell.
I am constantly amazed at the money that goes into golf…. Man…. chasing a little round ball after you just tried to hit the cr##p out of the sucker guess that is something I will never under stand.
Just as much as trying to understand the mentality of the people involved in Multi sport activities that hold down a day job , have families and other social commitments, blindly following what is giving to them as a model of what will give them success.
This truly is the place where you have to examine the mentality behind it all.
1. what do you train for ..?
2. what is your profile…?
3. what are you trying to achieve…?
4. what is your driving intention behind your desire to achieve…?
Behind all endeavours is the physiological desire to posses something that is missing.
Some do it by finding a release in self medication through the bottle or illicit drugs and other forms of self medication.
Others take up a crusade of some nature, saving Uranium or keeping whales in the ground.
Now I am not saying the response to the desire for training is couched in some physiological disorder but it is good to take stock in the motivation for the pursuit of your goal.
By doing this, it enables you to have realistic expectations of your results, and keeps a safer sporting environment for all those concerned
Hamburg triathlon age group hero
HOW OLD IS OLD Guys like Charley inspire us all to remember chronological age does not mean a stereotype way of life The Wood River Valley’s latest world champion is 81-year-old Charley French, who made a quick trip to Germany last weekend to bring home a gold medal from the Hamburg Triathlon World Championships. “I think I was the oldest one there,” French said Wednesday, after flying home Tuesday night. He may have been the oldest, but his finishing time in the three-sport event was faster than many of the younger competitors. French, a member of Team USA, swam, cycled and ran the Hamburg course in three hours, 12 minutes and 29 seconds to win the gold medal in the men’s 80+ division. The event included a 1500-meter swim, a 40-kilometer bicycle ride and a 10-kilometer run. The best time for the event was recorded by Germany’s Daniel Unger, who finished at 1:43:18 to win the men’s elite championship. 
triathlon
Hamburg Triathlon age group bravery
I saw this article in a NZ paper
I thought it just shows what is possible when you have the desire to go the distance,
Sepie Fights Cancer To Finish Fifth
Perhaps the greatest story however belongs to a man who did not podium but nonetheless finished a superb fifth in his 75 to 79 age category. Christchurch’s Anthony Sepie simply doesn’t know when to quit.
A familiar sight at triathlon and multisport events around the country and in last year’s Contact Energy National Series races, Sepie made the journey to Hamburg despite battling to overcome both leukemia and prostate cancer.
The story of his triumph against adversity doesn’t end there though, as was reported in the Christchurch Star earlier this year.
Sepie can only swim in the ocean, as his skin is too sensitive to handle the chlorine used in indoor pools, which means he’s even out training in the ocean in the middle of winter.
Add to that the bouts of chemotherapy he has for the leukemia every two to three years and the injections required for his prostate cancer (which impede his performances by about 20%), and you wouldn’t blame Sepie if he had packed the sport in years ago.
But as he told the Star’s Matt Smith in March this year, his reasons for taking part are simple.
“It’s an interest and a challenge and you meet very nice people doing it,” he said.
Finishing is a must for Sepie as well.
“Like most triathletes, I don’t like DNFs (did not finish).”
Tri NZ CEO Dave Beeche was thrilled with the results over the weekend, saying the age group racers represent the ‘heart and soul’ of the sport here.
“Much of the focus falls on the elite athletes and their performances, and rightly so from the media’s perspective. But in their own way these age group athletes have all trained just as hard - some perhaps even harder in terms of family and work sacrifice. Their dream may well have been just to be on the start line but for many they proved competitive in huge fields of athletes from all around the world.”
Beeche says the trip and the race will for many be the culmination of a lifetime dream.
“While some are regulars in terms of competing at the World Championships, for many it is the one and only shot at such an event. The stories behind the likes of Anthony Sepie are an inspiration to all New Zealanders to not take a backward step and to fight adversity and in the case of Anthony, ill health.”
“Our sport makes use of every natural resource with the swim, bike and run legs laying the foundation for a good healthy lifestyle. As well as that though comes the camaraderie that our sport engenders, something that came through strongly in Germany with the team all proudly displaying the silver fern and typical Kiwi passion for our country.”
“We are just as proud of them as we are any of our elite athletes who represent the pinnacle of high performance in our sport.”
2007 Hamburg BG Triathlon World Championships
| The Australian and New Zealand flag flew proudly at the BG World Triathlon Championships in Hamburg As it did for many other nations but what a great event I will have some First hand interveiws soon and will put them up |
|||||||||
| 1 | Raphael, Aurélien | FRA | 00:53:43 | ||||||
| 2 | Brownlee, Alistair | GBR | 00:54:09 | ||||||
| 3 | Luis, Vincent | FRA | 00:54:14 | ||||||
| Junior Women | |||||||||
| 1 | Avil, Hollie | GBR | 00:59:43 | ||||||
| 2 | Gentle, Ashleigh | AUS | 00:59:54 | ||||||
| 3 | Robisch, Rebecca | GER | 01:00:10 | ||||||
| U23 Men | |||||||||
| 1 | Buchholz, Gregor | GER | 01:49:31 | ||||||
| 2 | Sexton, Brendan | AUS | 01:49:33 | ||||||
| 3 | Vasiliev, Ivan | RUS | 01:49:40 | ||||||
| U23 Women | |||||||||
| 1 | Norden, Lisa | SWE | 02:01:24 | ||||||
| 2 | Oeinck, Jasmine | USA | 02:02:15 | ||||||
| 3 | Koch, Renata | HUN | 02:02:40 | ||||||
| Elite Men | |||||||||
| 1 | Unger, Daniel | GER | 01:43:18 | ||||||
| 2 | Gomez, Javier | ESP | 01:43:22 | ||||||
| 3 | Kahlefeldt, Brad | AUS | 01:43:35 | ||||||
| Elite Women | |||||||||
| 1 | Fernandes, Vanessa | POR | 01:53:27 | ||||||
| 2 | Snowsill, Emma | AUS | 01:54:31 | ||||||
| 3 | Bennett, Laura | USA | 01:54:37 | ||||||
As you can see by the top mens results ( please this is not a sexist thing its just I know the guys personaly and will be featuring them later )
I will post a bit more about all the team as I get more time. I have two good interveiws with Matt and Daves suport teams.
AS I was saying when you look at the splits you can see the impact of the run leg in triathlon It has been expressed that because of the drafting nature of the bike leg in elite
compatition the true sport of the multy event has been replaced by who is the strongest runner.
What do you think is this so. ?
| 3 | Kahlefeldt | Brad | AUS | 01:43:35 | 00:17:47 | 00:00:36 | 00:54:46 | 00:00:18 | 00:30:05 |
| 35 | Hopper | Matt | AUS | 01:46:00 | 00:17:42 | 00:00:45 | 00:54:56 | 00:00:23 | 00:32:13 |
| 60 | Dellow | David | AUS | 01:50:10 | 00:17:37 | 00:00:43 | 00:54:55 | 00:00:20 | 00:36:31 |
| DNF | Thompson | Simon | AUS | 00:00:00 | 00:17:38 | 00:00:40 | 00:58:04 | 00:00:20 | 00:00:00 |
.
-
-
Sometimes when you really do want to get started
BUT
the Motivation is not there try the power of positive therapy to change the way you think CLICK ON THE PICTURE ABOVE
see where it takes you
-
-
