I Need a Hero

10
Nov
2010
By

When was the last time something really amazing happened in pro sports.  Yeah, I know there has been a lot of cool plays and amazing acts of athleticism….but when is the last time we’ve seen a Hero?

I’m not just talking about cycling this time.  Think about all sports and let me know the last time a real, honest to goodness, Hero existed. (I think that Jens Voigt might be the closest thing we’ve seen in a long time.) Sports figures have become more like celebrities, and when we’re not reading about the latest doping scandal or wild antics, there are some decent quality sports being played.  But what I’m looking for is a Hero.  Not someone who throws the winning touchdown pass with 3 seconds to go in the game…..something much, much bigger.

What I want is a real Hero to emerge.

If you’ve got kids, there’s no doubt you’ve seen the movie…Cars.  Well, you know how Lightning stops just a few feet before the finish line…giving up the Piston Cup so that he can go back and help his crumpled up fellow competitor, The King?  Thats the kind of Hero I’m talking about.  A Hero that will do something so incredible in their sport that the whole world sits up and takes notice.  An action so great, that it is talked about for decades to come.  Yeah, I know it might sound corny, but we need a Hero to do something as great as this.

I think the world of sports needs it.  We need a Hero.  Why, you ask?  Well, our kids need a positive influence and role model that they can build their future on.  The rest of us could use a little dose of positive influence as well.

But who’s it going to be….and how is it going to take place?  I’m willing to see this happen in any sports genre, but it sure would be fantastic if we see it coming from a Pro Cyclist.  Who’s it going to be?  Let me see you script this one together.

Enjoy Your Ride

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  • http://kentsbike.blogspot.com Kent Peterson

    Check out Chris Horner:

    http://bit.ly/95Gcfu

  • Gerry

    “The famous are rarely significant, the significant rarely famous.”
    The celebrities of all walks who we look to as heroes were heroes before they were famous.
    Look in the mirror Darryl, you’re a hero to somebody.

  • Robert

    Google Pat Tillman.

  • http://www.massivemtber.co.uk Clive Chapman

    I’m not one to put the tag of hero on any sporting person. There are too many heroes outside of sport who are the genuine article.

    The fireman who rushes back into a burning building, the lifeboatman who braves the worst storm to save a life, or the soldier who risks his own neck save his comrades.

    The disabled person who overcomes all the odds to achieve what was not possible or the badly injured who completes, lets say a marathon.

    For sporting people all you can hope for is that they are good role models. I think that doing something you love, even if you are the worlds best at sport doesn’t qualify for the tag “hero”.

    But, if you force my hand then my sport of Rugby has the Englishman Jonny Wilkinson, the youngest player ever to play for England, won the Rugby World Cup with an extra time drop goal in 2003 and is renowned for his modesty, his hard work and shunning of the celebraty lifestyle in the pursuit of excellence.

    Like I said, he’s been at the very top of his sport, a totally awesome role model, but as he’d be the first to tell you, a hero he ain’t.

    • http://lovingthebike.com Loving the Bike

      Great words of wisdom as always, my friend. You’re totally right about looking for heros in all areas of life. I appreciate your words.

      Darryl

  • http://www.adirondackbasecamp.com tourpro

    It’s possible with so much information and media surrounding modern-athletes, that we know too much about them. It turns out that they are all people, with flaws, just like us.

    For me, it’s no longer the impressive performance or record-breaking feat, but the style and character of the person who has strived to achieve. Like Jens and many others.

    No doubt, it is hard to put anyone on a pedestal these days, when we’ve been burned so many times. But even so, there is still hope.

    • http://lovingthebike.com Loving the Bike

      You’re so right….we really do get to find out everything about them these days don’t we? That probably does play a part in the heroism, and it also allows them to show what kind of hero they are outside of the playing field as well.

      Darryl

  • http://taiwanincycles.blogspot.com/ Andrew

    If one came along more than once a generation we’d hardly take notice. That’s what makes them special in a field that often attracts the selfish on a quest for individual achievement, fame, riches and ego. Those very selfish desires often drive athletes to win. They often have to pay a very high personal price as well.

    • http://lovingthebike.com Loving the Bike

      Good point, thanks for sharing it Andrew. I’m not sure who we would consider the last “true hero”, but I’m hoping one more comes along in my lifetime.

      Darryl

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Every Winter or Spring, I seem to get a cold or flu that keeps me on the couch for a week.  This really puts a damper on my training and leaves me feeling weak for a couple of weeks afterwards.  Any tips to avoid colds so I can keep training strong?

Kelli’s Answer:

I wish I had a magic potion for this!  But, instead, I’ve got 7 Tips:

  1. Eat well & Hydrate Every Day.  Start with a good nutrition foundation.  Choose whole-foods like fruits, vegetables, lean protein, whole grains, dairy or soy, and healthy fats instead of processed foods and junk.  They will reduce inflammation and reduce oxidative stress…both of which damage cells and make it harder to stay healthy.  And, make sure you’re getting enough nutrients by including regular meals and snacks – if you skip meals and you’re malnourished, your body will use all its nutrients to simply produce enough energy rather than fortifying your immune system.  And, your body needs water to function its best – dehydration will affect your training ability, your overall health, your perceived effort, and your ability to fight illnesses.  Drink water throughout the day and during/after training.
  2. Take your supplements: vitamins, healthy fats, probiotics, Vitamins C and D, and iron (if needed).  As an athlete, you simply have more nutrition needs than other people.  Unfortunately, you may not be able to get in everything you need through food consistently.  To stay healthy and support your body best, include a high-quality daily multivitamin.  Then, take fish oil supplements to reduce bodily inflammation, and probiotics to fortify your immune system and keep your gut healthy.  Next, make sure that your multivitamin includes Vitamin C and that you are getting at least 1000 IU of Vitamin D per day (in addition to sunshine).  Lastly, and especially if you are female, make sure you are getting enough iron through your diet or supplements (if needed) – I’ve seen a consistent correlation between low iron status and chronic colds, flus, and even mono.
  3. Get enough sleep. A common denominator between non-pro competitive adult athletes?  Huge demands on time.  It’s easy to allow all of your responsibilities to crowd your day and decrease your hours of sleep.  But, research supports that too little sleep can increase your risk of illness – so, make sleep a priority!
  4. Know when to train, and when to take a break.  When you first begin to feel sick, it’s a good idea to cut your workouts short.  Shorter workouts can actually boost your immune function, whereas long, endurance training can make it more difficult to fight off a cold.  It’s usually a bad idea to “tough it out” and push through a long workout when you’re feeling lousy.
  5. Nip it in the bud.  There are products at the pharmacy, and maybe one in your pantry that can help you fight a cold if you use them soon enough.  Products like Zicam and Cold-Ease do have research to support their use in shortening the duration of a cold.  If you’d like a more natural approach, try organic apple cider vinegar.  It’s somewhat folk-medicine, but many people (including myself and many of my clients) swear by 2 Tbsp organic apple cider vinegar in 16 oz. water twice per day.  It seems to clear out sinuses and reduce risk of a long-lasting sinus infection.  Of note, you should NEVER drink vinegar straight as its high acidity can harm your esophagus, so make sure to dilute it with the water.  It doesn’t taste good, so plug your nose and drink it down!
  6. Get outside and enjoy some personal space.  Personally, I have 3 little germ factories (my children) in my household.  It’s simply not possible to avoid being around running noses and coughs.  But, the more everyone can get outside rather than cooped up indoors in close proximity, the more you can avoid colds.  Many experts believe we get more colds in the winter simply because we’re cooped up inside together more.
  7. And, maybe most importantly: Wash your hands and avoid touching your face. You get sick for one reason (and one reason only): germs. Bacteria and viruses make you ill by finding a way into your body through physical contact. Since most of your contact with the world happens through your hands, washing them or using a gel sanitizer can stop germs from making the leap from contaminated surfaces to inside your body. Hand washing is especially important after riding public transportation, moving from one environment to another and before eating or preparing food. What’s more, even if your hands are relatively clean, chances are some germs will find a way to survive there. But these parasites will only compromise your health if they can get into your body…the easiest place to transmit illness is through mucous membranes such as your eyes, mouth and nose. Keep your hands away from your face and make it difficult for germs to find you.

Please send us your questions for our Expert Sports Nutritionist, Kelli Jennings to “Ask the Sports Nutritionist“. Kelli Jennings is a Registered Dietitian with a passion for healthy eating, wellness, & sports nutrition. For more information go to www.apexnutritionllc.com.

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