One of my fondest memories growing up in New York is when Russell Provenzano, Tommy Leslie, and I discovered a refrigerator box on the side of the road, hauled it to the BIG hill behind Southedge Middle School and, repeatedly rolled inside the box down that hill for hours. Friends, adventure, fun. What else could a kid ask for?!
Tromping through mud and water with swarms of other “crazy” people in an obstacle race is sort of like rolling down the hill in the refrigerator box. We navigate obstacles, face some serious fears, and then climax into some of the best post-race celebrations on the planet! Friends, adventure, fun. What else could we ask for?!
Doing that obstacle race with your kids.
Life in a family is sort of like one of those races: communal, challenging, mysterious, embracing the unexpected, conquering fear or remaining limited by it, climaxing into memorable moments of joy and celebration.
As a fellow journeyer, I have competed in many obstacle races. Even better, my wife has been the top female finisher. And two of our five children, both teenage boys, have finished first in their age groups. Sharing challenges and successes with family are deeply fulfilling. So, what does it take to live the adventure well with your children? I am not 100% certain, but for me, it starts with the following three secrets:
1. Vision. Have a realistic vision of what you and your children could be and what you all could do and really want. Vision is seeing with the eyes of confidence what can become reality. Think of one person you most want to be like. Read a book with your family on someone who achieved extraordinary things. I like “Unbroken” or “Lone Survivor” or “The Dip.” Look at YouTube videos of people who do amazing things. Check these out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Mt31BAEwto&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XJu-2E7RT4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ObcX5ZopSZE
Then together personalize the vision to your family and hang onto it. Review it together regularly. And, commit to do one thing now that emulates their lifestyle?
2. Specificity. The body will do what you specifically train it to do. You cannot run your best in a “road race” if you only train on a treadmill. (A treadmill can be helpful, but it is not the same as running on the road and in Florida humidity!) So first, take the time to decide and record, together, what you really want in obstacle racing and life. Then, train specifically toward that goal. If you want to learn to climb better, go out into your world and find things to climb like a wall, fence, or rope. Work at it together. Once satisfied, select the next step and train specifically toward it until accomplished. Progress and results are a beautiful thing. They will inject ongoing motivation into multiple areas of life.
3. Fun. Let’s face it. Life is too short and too hard to not have some fun. Yes, I am a serious competitor. But, if training and obstacle racing are not fun, then go find what is fun, and a training environment that is also fun. Do not stop looking and experimenting until you do. Side Note: if you have not climbed the 14’ cargo net or jumped our 9’ wall in the Gainesville Health & Fitness outdoor EDGE Pit, you are missing some real fun. People who finally conquer it, act like they just won the lottery!
Now go and live the adventure with your children. Invite other people along that you all enjoy. A personal favorite movie poster teaser from the classic, “Braveheart,” is:
“Every man dies, not every man truly lives.”
It’s a reminder that life, especially with children, is an adventure. And when life stops being one, part of us stops living.
Andy Farina
andyfarina@earthlink.net
Tromping through mud and water with swarms of other “crazy” people in an obstacle race is sort of like rolling down the hill in the refrigerator box. We navigate obstacles, face some serious fears, and then climax into some of the best post-race celebrations on the planet! Friends, adventure, fun. What else could we ask for?!
Doing that obstacle race with your kids.
Life in a family is sort of like one of those races: communal, challenging, mysterious, embracing the unexpected, conquering fear or remaining limited by it, climaxing into memorable moments of joy and celebration.
As a fellow journeyer, I have competed in many obstacle races. Even better, my wife has been the top female finisher. And two of our five children, both teenage boys, have finished first in their age groups. Sharing challenges and successes with family are deeply fulfilling. So, what does it take to live the adventure well with your children? I am not 100% certain, but for me, it starts with the following three secrets:
1. Vision. Have a realistic vision of what you and your children could be and what you all could do and really want. Vision is seeing with the eyes of confidence what can become reality. Think of one person you most want to be like. Read a book with your family on someone who achieved extraordinary things. I like “Unbroken” or “Lone Survivor” or “The Dip.” Look at YouTube videos of people who do amazing things. Check these out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Mt31BAEwto&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XJu-2E7RT4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ObcX5ZopSZE
Then together personalize the vision to your family and hang onto it. Review it together regularly. And, commit to do one thing now that emulates their lifestyle?
2. Specificity. The body will do what you specifically train it to do. You cannot run your best in a “road race” if you only train on a treadmill. (A treadmill can be helpful, but it is not the same as running on the road and in Florida humidity!) So first, take the time to decide and record, together, what you really want in obstacle racing and life. Then, train specifically toward that goal. If you want to learn to climb better, go out into your world and find things to climb like a wall, fence, or rope. Work at it together. Once satisfied, select the next step and train specifically toward it until accomplished. Progress and results are a beautiful thing. They will inject ongoing motivation into multiple areas of life.
3. Fun. Let’s face it. Life is too short and too hard to not have some fun. Yes, I am a serious competitor. But, if training and obstacle racing are not fun, then go find what is fun, and a training environment that is also fun. Do not stop looking and experimenting until you do. Side Note: if you have not climbed the 14’ cargo net or jumped our 9’ wall in the Gainesville Health & Fitness outdoor EDGE Pit, you are missing some real fun. People who finally conquer it, act like they just won the lottery!
Now go and live the adventure with your children. Invite other people along that you all enjoy. A personal favorite movie poster teaser from the classic, “Braveheart,” is:
“Every man dies, not every man truly lives.”
It’s a reminder that life, especially with children, is an adventure. And when life stops being one, part of us stops living.
Andy Farina
andyfarina@earthlink.net
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