"All-around athletes succeed" by John Schreier in the Feb. 27th Daily Nebraskan; is an article about John Robinson on the Nebraska Men's Gymnastics team. It quotes him "You've got to spread out your time pretty equally because if you focus too much on one event you're lacking in another." It goes onto also quote Francis Allen the Men's Gymnastic coach @ the University " I did other sports in high school, but the all-around in gymnastics is the most challenging of your overall athletic ability."
Hmmm pretty strong words. To be a good all-arounder it takes many different skills, from overall strength for events such as still rings, to flexibility, quickness, explosiveness for floor exercise and vault with a bit of anaerobic ability when you are exerting those short burst of energy. It's definitely impressive to be gifted in such a way, but "most challenging of overall athletic ability"? I've said it before...gymnastics can be the foundation for great athleticism regardless of where you end up in the future.
I think the inspiration here to be taken away from this article is deeper yet and holds true for other athletes as well - certainly for triathletes and other multi-sport athletes. The tendency for most athletes is to spend more time on one event...probably their favorite...maybe cycling...and maybe not spending as much time as we should on balancing our load. Probably a good idea to mix things up just to keep it fresh. Ideally it goes even deeper as the Motto found on Pound jr wall says; "Balance your Life; Work, Rest and Recreation". Rest is hardest for me...what about you? So many Adventures and so little time.
Today, I definitely needed the rest, woke up with a drainage and a tickle in my throat...inevitable this time of year? Yes.
Still with the new snow...
Fresh snow had to get out and do something. So met PC out at Wilderness for some X country skiing. Saw the Thomas family out there being super troopers, crossed paths with a few other hardy individuals. The track was getting fast when we left, but it was also starting to get a bit sticky in the open areas causing the skis to ice up. Careful choice of wax makes a difference when running waxable skis. This can be a pain at times, but when you've got the combination right, it's down right zippy. Floating on the snow is a good sensation.
The correlation between swimming and x country skiing has become more apparent to me as I swim more. Both activities require good technique and balance to go fast otherwise you feel like you hacking away at the water or snow. It's all in the glide baby...all in the glide. Finesse. Both take practice and a special sensory feel of your environment ie; connection of the snow to your skis and your body to the water flowing around you. Not unlike a gymnast learning to do a flip as the wall ceiling wall flashes before their eyes...
PC executes his skilled balance Gymnastic move- Missed the good shot fumbling for my camera as PC negotiated the lip on the bridge with the 6 foot sticks on his feet and 5 foot poles in his hand over a 1 foot lip to the bridge. 9.5
American Schwinn cruiser downtown. Reminds me of one I had.
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