Athlete gains more than fitness

  • Published
  • By Maj. Matthew Mangan
  • 355th Maintenance Operations Squadron
DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. (AFPN) --  Almost one year ago, I stumbled across the finish line of Ironman Korea, a 140-mile-long triathlon.

Crossing that threshold was the high-water mark of a great personal journey. While traveling to that point, I was fortunate to learn a few simple and universal lessons.

The first, hardest and most important lesson is we must maintain balance in our lives. Life has built-in warning signs when we are getting out of balance. When we ignore these signs, life has a way of correcting the out-of-balance situation whether we want it to or not.

In training to run 26 miles immediately after a 112-mile bike ride and a 2.4-mile swim, there is a huge temptation to run ridiculous amounts every day to get ready. Wise runners know they must balance training with rest and rebuilding time.

If we ignore this strategy, twinges and pains will occur warning us to come back into balance. Ignoring these warning signs will result in overuse injury, which can wipe out weeks of training benefits.

In our work areas and home lives, if we concentrate too much on one area to the detriment of others, or attempt to carry alone a load we should share, life will provide us warning signs. Arguments with our loved ones, changes in personality, constant fatigue, forgetfulness and clumsiness should be recognized as warning signs to be heeded before we hurt those close to us, our co-workers or ourselves.

Often, we are blind to our own warning signs and need to rely on those around us to point them out. We must all be on alert to the symptoms of being out of balance and take care of one another.

Lesson two is we are all capable of so much more than we believe.

The way to reach seemingly impossible goals is simply one step at a time.

Five years ago, I was 40 pounds overweight and closer to a heart attack than the finish line of any race. I vowed to start taking steps to reverse my sorry state and started with the modest goal of riding my bike home from work one day. Accomplishing that first goal set up the accomplishment of incrementally greater goals -- riding once a week, riding every day, starting to run and soon, looping the flight line.

Each goal was built on the foundations of those previous goals and each was just slightly more ambitious than the last. Over the course of four years, I went from an "average Joe" who got winded on the way to the fridge to an "average Joe" who was able to move continuously for 13-plus hours.

Anybody can do it with a little persistence and constant incremental progress. Set goals and enjoy each small accomplishment just as much as the big final goals.

Which brings up my final lesson -- living life is its own reward.

Enjoying each day and the challenges met and overcome is what it's all about. The incredible joy of watching a sunrise on a morning run or the satisfaction in a job well done are feelings better experienced than described.

Every day we see and accomplish hundreds of fantastic things. Take a second to enjoy these jewels, and then turn that energy toward your next goal or challenge. (Courtesy of Air Combat Command News Service)