Everyone has a competitive spirit, it is human nature, however only a few will take up the challenge .. TheEd
The Competitive Spirit
When I wrote this some years ago, I had no idea that in October 2025, I would be returning to this little extract and be writing exactly about ‘the competitive spirit’.
Well, here I am writing about a current group of runners that we coach in Finland. I always refer to this stat, about the group. They are made up of 80% women and at least 80% of them over the age of 40.
Boy, our season of racing has just finished this week and yesterday evening, I had the proud task of talking to them as to how thankful I am to be coaching them. This group has given me immense enjoyment, it is not the same in the way of the intense stress as it was between the years 1985 to 1997, where the athletes were winning individual races and titles, with relay wins and team events.
This is different. You wouldn’t have expected an intensity to have come from this group where many of them have never been in competitive sport previously. But, hell, they have this fire. They so want to improve their own individual event times and their commitment is honourable.
With this desire and competitive spirit it opens a whole new area of emotion and fears that most of them have never experienced before. However, I have full faith in them and I aspire to be a better coach to help them realise their goals
My words in hope: believe me when I tell you that you can ALL go far quicker without there being any more pain than you feel now .. this is a promise .. learning to run in the zone is what it is all about .. I know that you are competitive and often the biggest battle is with yourself and I am here to help you achieve your goals and ambitions .. with love and thanks ..
The competitive spirit lives on and is truly thriving