The Spirit of Athleticism Shines Through Tragedy

All of us here at Cheer360 decided to perhaps take a break from “Taste Bud Tuesdays” to comment on yesterdays events at the Boston Marathon. As a four-time marathon runner and a Boston College Alumni, I was devastated when I heard the news of yesterday’s tragedy.  I spent four "Marathon Mondays" in Boston and have nothing but joyful memories of the day. We would spectate at the top of “heartbreak hill” a rather intense incline that comes around mile 20, right when the majority of runners hit “the wall,” a term used in endurance running to explain the point in a race when all of a sudden you don't think you can go anymore.  But runners, like most athletes are resilient.  They break through “walls” and come out stronger on the other side, crossing the finish line or achieving their goals. While all of us in this country may not be athletes, we have all embodied their spirit at one time or another.  As Americans, we have faced tragedy and come out stronger on the other side.  We rely on each other the same way that athletes rely on their teammates. We look to certain teammates to step up and take charge, an attitude we now see in the many acts of heroism that are being revealed today not just by first responders, but runners and spectators whose instinct was not to run away, but to run towards the smoke and save those who were ailing.  We are a team stronger than any other, and this tragedy will only strengthen us, the same way athletes take a loss as a way to get better. An interesting quote was brought to my attention yesterday evening via the Washington Post. It came from Kathrine Switzer, the first woman to run the Boston Marathon.  She said "If you are losing faith in human nature, go out and watch a marathon."  She could not be more right.  Yesterdays events were tragic, and our hearts go out to the victims, their families, and the city of Boston, but yesterdays events also brought to light the most admirable aspects of human nature.  We saw bravery, strength, courage and resilience at its best, and it is these aspects of yesterday's events we should take away from this year's Boston Marathon. Coach Shelbi is Cheer360's Director of Nutrition and is a certified personal trainer and soon to be Registered Dietitian. Shelbi's roots in personal training have given her a better understanding of the important piece of the overall health puzzle that nutrition plays, especially when it comes to training for a sport. She understands the physical demands of cheerleading and knows how to educate young women on the importance of proper nutrition to support an intense training program. Shelbi has completed 4 marathons and 6 half marathons and the training process for these races only reinforces the strong belief she has in sports training and proper nutrition and how both go hand in hand.