I have made a decision, which without a doubt will have an impact on this year – both good and bad.
But why?
I am in progress – 2013 was my best year – both personally and sports-wise! I got named as elite athlete of the year, which I am incredibly proud of. I have myself to thank – but also my support base, consisting of a very understanding family and a coach, who has believed in me all the way through – even when nobody else did.
So now the questions is, how you can live up to a year like that?! I of course want more! The risk of disappointing oneself is huge, cause how can 2014 become just as good as 2013?!! There will be a high focus on me now – the expectations from the surroundings are huge. The eyes are on me – What are my plans? – In which direction am I heading towards? – Can I live up to my own statements?
I have made a decision. Every day – every week – every year – has to offer new challenges. I have learned a lot about myself the last two years – and one of the most important thing is, that you have to be proactive in all choices in life. There will ALWAYS be a consequence with the choices you make! It’s impossible to avoid and that’s a fact! I have in the meantime also learned, that if you make the choice- , if you chose to believe in yourself and your choice, well, then it will most often bring something good along. And as we know, every cloud always has a silver lining.
Why all this talk?! – Well, I have decided to replace my coach. My faithful travelling companion through the last 2,5 years, Frank Jakobsen (yeah, and his wife Kaisa – not forgetting) – has been by my side, through thick and thin and I have improved so incredibly much in this period. I think, that if it hadn’t been for them – well, then I probably would have quit the triathlon! But I didn’t and I am them forever grateful. My development, while I have worked together with Frank, has only been going in one direction – and that’s up!! and yes, now we are standing on the top and looking out. I have chosen to end our cooperation, while we are together on the top! Frank had prepared me, – that there would come a race, where things wouldn’t go my way – but that race hasn’t been there yet! We experienced that the wave would never break and I can only look back on a cooperation with good memories.
So why replace? To me, life is about choices… CHOICES, CHOICES, CHOICES! and now I have chosen to end the cooperation, while we are on top. You often see, that when things starts to go bad, one replaces the coach, or make new initiatives. I would rather ride on a positive wave and try out new opportunities, while everything is going well.
Now both Frank and I can SMILE about the time we have had together, instead of our roads departing, we’ve decided to go together.
My new coach is called Luc Van Lierde and I am very exited to see, if he can help me reach new heights. As often, you say that new eyes sees new things – and everybody needs these new inputs to move forward.
Happy Easter to everyone!