wellington | runningandthecity

Chrissie was doing another talk yesterday and a lot of my friends were attending so I decided I hadn’t heard enough of her. The questions and answers were pretty much the same I heard the day before at the Harvard Club only in this occasion there was more time to go into the answers. I wanted to share some things she said, as I thought there were a key to how she does what she does, and you would enjoy them!

You have to find your passion. This is key, but do we all do it? When she had to decide between keeping her career in international development, which she loved, and being a pro triathlete, that was how she figured out which way to go. Find your passion. Think about it. Today.
Best advice you ever got? Be Kind to Yourself. As athlete we sometimes focus and worry about the things we didn’t do during training, about how far we are from our goals, about how so many others might be stronger/faster/etc. Focus on what you did do, on what you do have, be nice to yourself.
It’s gonna hurt. Really hurt. Don’t fear it, embrace it.
Enjoy it. If you are not going to enjoy it, then why do it? (Really, why!??!)
What does she think about when she’s in a race and the pain takes over? When she starts getting tired, down and all that fun stuff, she looks back to other races where she did well, workouts she completed she didn’t think she could do, things she achieved that seemed unobtainable and they give her confidence. We all have our fears and insecurities, but we have to find ways to push through them.
Above all, ignore what you think are your limits. Your limits are not where you think they are. You really don’t know where they are until you go for it.

(I have Italian parents… I have to do that thing with the hands…!!!)

Chrissie Wellington – Be Kind To Yourself

Last year, around the same time, I had a post called Chris McCormack and the Appreciation Lunch so I figured copying the title would make things easier!

I attended the lunch last year as I was working as an endurance events volunteer for various charities (Girls on the Run, etc) but I was there to represent the Lower East Side Girls Club. This time around, I was there to represent the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (Team in Training!). The Luncheon, that is hosted at the Harvard Club, celebrates the charities that fundraise through endurance events. My type of crowd!

Fun bunch. And the people I see all the time. At races, at events, and that I work with! And there were some great speakers!

Just like last year we had Macca, this year we had Chrissie!! She was phenomenal!!!! John Korff, of Korff enterprises (he is a ROCKSTAR, I work with him a lot, he is the race director for the NYC Tri and the the NYC Ironman!) interviewed her on stage. She talked about how she doesn’t want to do a marathon “it starts too early! If it started later, I could do a swim and bike before!”.

She did a 2:40 marathon, and that was within an Ironman, so he asked what he thought she could do if she really trained for a marathon. She said probably around 2:30. I think faster! She talked about her new book, how it describes her philosophy and it seemed to really align with all that I believe in. She thinks you always need to shoot for the stars, to not let fear stop you and that yes, we are all scared, but you do not want to live thinking ”what IF” I had done that. I hate the what ifs too. She was amazing and inspirational.

Mary Wittenberg talked too, of course, and I recruited Matt Long to invite her to our Team in Training Fall Kick Off. Matt said yes and I figured I could use him to lure her in.. and how could anyone say no to Matt?!?! He’s amazing. He even lined up to get a book signed by Chrissie. Love him!!!

I talked to her for a bit. I talked super fast because I had really nice things to say and I always think those things are uncomfortable for people to hear. And she has this amazing amazing SWEET smile and huge grin, and super happiness and personality. The kind of people I like. Chrissie and I could be great friends.