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Active Expert: Gale Bernhardt

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I have had two people ask me this question in the last week, "What are you training for?"

While I do jump into some events now and then, my stock answer is, "Life. It requires tremendous endurance."

Really, I maintain a certain level of fitness so I can do the fun things I like to do, pretty much at the drop of a hat, and enjoy myself. I also believe that keeping a certain level of fitness gives me the quality of life now, and is an investment in my future quality of life.

When an event sounds fun I might rearrange my "training" to better suit a particular event. That written, I'm really training for life.



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Feb 5, 2008 7:06 PM Reply Click to view Trihardist's profile Trihardist

That's a good answer.

I just transitioned from a bachelor of arts in English Literature to a position as a multisport coach. I've only been racing for two years, and was almost totally sedentary before college, so sometimes I feel like I'm training to earn the continued respect of my athletes.

Feb 6, 2008 7:21 AM Reply Click to view Gale Bernhardt's profile Gale Bernhardt in response to: Trihardist

Congrats on the job change.

I can only speak for myself. People should never confuse my personal athletic ability with the ability of those I coach. The people I've coached, and continue to coach, have athletic ability that far exceeds my own.

My athletes like to know that I'm active, but are happiest when they are making athletic progress - going faster or longer.

I think your athletes will respect you as a coach if you are helping them improve ~

Feb 6, 2008 12:43 PM Reply Click to view bettyjean's profile bettyjean

I've been asked that question all my life. Or, how about this one? Why do you run for so long? Why do you work out so much? ...followed by "you're going to hurt yourself" They funny thing is, these questions and statements of concern usually come from people who don't work out a bit. Actually, that is not always true; a good friend of mine told me that it was unusual to work out as much as I do. I told him that believe it or not, there are people just like me in the world, and I see them every morning at the gym. Then I smile and confessed, "the funny thing is that we're always talking about how strange people who don't work out are". (wink)

Feb 7, 2008 8:50 AM Reply Click to view Gale Bernhardt's profile Gale Bernhardt in response to: bettyjean

Good one Ms. M. ~

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Gale Bernhardt

Member since: Jun 12, 2007

Gale Bernhardt's personal blog on triathlon, mountain biking, road cycling, running, "for women only" stuff, running with a dog and other issues in the endurance sports world.

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