Author Archives: Marnie

Bubble Wrap and Priorities

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A few months ago I went up against Canadian Heptathlete, Jessica Zelinka in the filming one of the CTV “How Tough is This Sport” segments. I immediately went home and signed up at a gym. My aerobic fitness wasn’t bad, but with each humiliating event that Jessica schooled me, my strength and particularly core strength were exposed – as missing.

The local gym I signed up at is actually a boxing gym in my neighbourhood. I’ve known the owner, Wayne Bourque, for years; I would often wave as I’d run by; until now. I didn’t need help with going for a run, but I’ll admit that I’ve greatly appreciated having a trainer/bully keep me accountable to working my core again. (There is a point here… stay with me!)

Wayne is just over 50 and he’s got a great family and a solid business; he’s happy. He also has a ‘What if?’ that has hung over him for almost 30 years. Wayne, from Fort McMurray, was on track for the 1984 Olympic team and had gone to Calgary to train for the Olympic Trials. Continue reading →

The Best Answer

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This month, my theme is about letting yourself expect big things. Selection, qualification and just the pure volume of training that you are going through can be simultaneously terrifying and thrilling. Be smart, push yourself, and prepare yourself more than you ever have before. Put yourself into a position where you have earned enough confidence so that you can expect to win.

When people find out that someone has been to the Olympics, right after their very wide-eyed and respectful “Really? Cool!!” they get asked, “How did you do?” I find that people may be bold or shy, but they are always curious and they almost always ask.

A few years ago, I was on vacation in Brazil, kayaking with a group, most of whom I didn’t know. They didn’t know about my sport background, and I wasn’t really giving them any more info on me than was required. After a few days, the group had learned that my sport of choice was rowing and that I had rowed for my university and even for my National team.

Having discovered that I had rowed for Canada one guy asked if I’d ever gone to the Olympics. I think he was asking it as a follow-up question, maybe even a joke. I don’t think he expected me to say yes- after all – who knows people who get to go to the Olympics! He was surprised and impressed when I said yes, and I could see that it was there – the follow up question. I could also see that he was struggling with how to politely ask. He started with, “What place did…” but then re-phrased his question to, “How did you do?” Continue reading →

2012 is Finally Here

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Happy 2012!

I always remember something special about New Year’s Eve before an Olympic year. My resolutions and wishes all had to do with me being ready to kick ass at the upcoming Games! I also remember the impact of knowing that it’s finally the Olympic year—the dream is so close! It is amazing and scary all at the same time. What a rush!

How far you’ve come…

One of the things that I found really interesting at the OES was the strength of the five words that were chosen. The group in attendance was asked “How do you want to be seen –by competitors, teammates and family—when you walk into the Opening Ceremony, into the Olympic village and into your sports venue in London? How do you want to feel?” You and your teammates selected some very powerful, confident words.

Proud ~ Unbreakable ~ World Class ~ Fierce ~ Relentless

Four years ago the words that were chosen by a similar group for the 2008 Team were more inclusive and supportive. Professional, Tenacious, United, Genuinely Respectful, Supportive.

Can you see the difference in tone of the words!? While I believe that you will still be caring and united; the strong and competitive words that resonate with you and your peers now lead me to believe that the Canadian Team is on the cusp of doing something unique in 2012.

2012 is your year.  You are on a path to have your best summer ever.

I’m sure you had a good time celebrating the end of 2011 and the beginning of 2012. I hope that you are near friends and family, but I expect that there is training to be done and work to do. Have fun with your ambitions and all the hard work that comes with them. The journey that you are on is a privilege.  One day –if not already—you will understand that it is the best gift ever.

Best wishes for an amazing New Year,
Marnie

All Fired Up and Proud

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I left the Olympic Excellence Series all fired up and proud. I continue to think of the many messages that resonated with me.

Ray Zahab started things off with such incredible energy! Achieving our goals, he said is “90% mental and the other 10% is in our heads.” His belief in “sweat equity”; that our most rewarding tasks are usually the hardest seemed to strike a chord with the group. Another quote of Ray’s that stuck with me was: “The sum of all our yesterdays brings us to where we are today.”   As Ray dropped himself  onto his little yellow snow sled in the Yukon and contemplated all the ‘good’ reasons and excuses he could give to others for not finishing; he realized the truth that “You are the only person who will know (or care) what happened.” It was enough to get him up and pushing forward. He didn’t want to (or need to) give up on himself.

The Winter Athlete Panel was full of highlights.

“As soon as you put meaning to what you do, there will be stress. You need to be comfortable in that stress.” Alex Bilodeau combats his stress and ‘what if’s’ with his “I Know…” list. Continue reading →