Saturday, August 04, 2012

maybe one day i'll write that handbook

watching the olympians, thinking about their supporters 

it must be a long road, loving an olympic athlete. for months on end they are away from home, training and enduring demands that tax them physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. the supporter knows this, yet may do so little to lessen the struggle that must exist for growth. 

i wonder how they do it, i wonder what they do. surely they communicate with the other regularly, constantly. is twice a week enough? along with chats on gmail? 

as training intensifies and the pace increases, the athlete comes under greater pressure- now there are down days, doubting days; it gets harder to haul. the supporter feels it, and wonders what to do. 
caring that the athlete is straining is one thing, but it seems the only question whose answer matters is how the supporter may support in the way that matters. it appears there no handbooks on How To Heart Your Olympian In Ways That Matter. and google turns up no answers. (yes, i checked). 

i wonder how they support their olympian each step of the way, every time their athlete returns to his training ground, every heavy day. through the daily toil, illnesses that fret them more, when their loved ones tell them, 'i had a pretty rough day today'. what do they say then, to lift his weary head? 

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this may be a one times challenging question- 
but i am going to find an answer.