It is practiced skill, talent, and sheer determination that sees some athletes break through records and excel at what they do. And while you may not have any ambitions to reach such performance power, the victories of others can inspire you to keep pushing to improve your fitness levels. Never is the commitment of athletes as impressive as with those who demonstrate real endurance and stamina to reach their goals.
What perhaps is most impressive about endurance athletes is that they really show you what can be achieved if you put your mind to it. Whatever your fitness ambitions are, you will undoubtedly face your own moments when the going gets tough, or your commitment is put to the test due to the general demands of a busy life. You don’t have to be a top athlete to push beyond your comfort zone, make progress, and overcome obstacles. The fact that athletes have attempted and conquered their own feats of endurance can help you in your efforts too.
Keep on running!
Running a marathon is a praiseworthy achievement but some runners just keep on going. These are the non-stop ultrarunners, such as the unstoppable British athlete Lizzie Hawker who has won the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc five times, a feat no other man or woman has beaten. The 103 mile (nearly 166 km) run took her through the French, Italian, and Swiss Alps. Not only that but she has the record for the fastest run at altitude, from Everest Base Camp to Kathmandu, which is a distance of nearly 200 miles (nearly 321 km). In 2011, she became the world record holder for a distance run in a 24 hour timeframe, which was 153.5 miles (247 km) in Wales in the UK.
Meanwhile, American Dean Karnazes, was in his 40s when he took on 50 marathons in 50 states in 50 consecutive days. Truly amazing! He’s run a marathon in the South Pole; he’s won the Badwater Ultramarathon, with a 135 mile (217 km) run across Death Valley in temperatures of 120 degrees Fahrenheit; not to mention running 3,000 miles (4,800 km) from Disneyland to New York in 75 days.
Pedal power!
Guinness World Record holder Paul Spencer is not just fast but he goes the distance. In 2010, the American cyclist crossed the United States from West to East, as well as North to South in 44 days, 1 minute and 8 seconds; a distance of 4,700 miles (around 7,564 km). In 2013, he achieved the fastest cycle across Europe, traveling 4,008 miles (6,450 km) in 22 days, 11 hours and 30 minutes; covering 12 countries.
Endurance cyclist Rebecca Rusch is a force to be reckoned with and her Twitter tag is @thequeenofpain – this is a woman who pushes herself hard. She is a six times World Champion holder, and has won the Leadville 100 four times, as well as being the course record holder on this 100 mile (161 km) extreme bike ride in the Colorado Rockies. She is also a three time winner of the 24 Hour Solo Mountain Bike World Champion, as well as the record holder of the 142 mile (228.5 km) Kokopelli Trail.
Sochi 2014
With The Winter Olympics underway in Russia, one outstanding athlete who won’t be competing but is still right up there in terms of endurance stars has to be the most talented Lindsey Vonn. She has more awards in alpine skiing than any other female athlete. She is one of the few female athletes to have won races in all five strands of World Cup skiing and she is one of two to win the World Cup Championships. Turning 30 this year, she is undoubtedly one of the most famous US women skiers of all time.
Talking about world championship skiing wouldn’t be complete without including Ted Ligety. The US ski racer just won a World Cup giant slalom race last month, the last of the men’s races before Sochi 2014. He has the accolade of being one of only five men to win three or more medals at one world championship. He won five medals in the 2013 World Championships, four of which were gold.
All athletes started somewhere and there’s no reason why you cannot challenge your own personal endurance levels and be a winner in your own personal race to better your fitness performance.
