How do you use challenges to motivate you?

Here's an article I wrote for the Hudson Mohawk road runners club. Click on the title "25 Year Progress Report". http://www.hmrrc.com/ Mostly what motivates me is I have always been fit. There may have been a few years in my 20s that I was in just so-so condition. There has not been a time since age 30 though, that I was not in very good shape. So as life challenges presented themselves I was determined to remain fit. It's really as simple as that.

My story is somewhat similar to Sumorunner's, in that 15 years ago I also had heart valve replacement surgery. Going through open-heart surgery gave me a heightened sense of my own mortality and the desire not to put things off and make every day (& workout) count. At 63 and with a mechanical aortic heart valve, I feel so lucky and blessed that I can still do this stuff. I loved getting a great endorphin rush after swimming a 200 IM at practice this morning. I know the day will eventually come when I can't do this anymore and I'm OK with that. My only regrets in life have been things I didn't do, not the things I tried. Mark

What motivates me to swim is reading the challenges others face and their stories, as in both of the 2 posts above

It's the meets and the comradery with like minded athletic friends.

This: "Believing in your dreams can be far more rewarding than living by your limitations." ~ Karla Peterson (I'm guessing that quote sounds familiar to you, since you posted my article with that quote on Swimspire.com: www.swimspire.com/.../ ) Since I wrote that article two years ago, I have strengthened my resolve even more to not let my limitations define and defeat me. I have continued to collect uncommon connective tissue problems along the way (to add to the "uncommon" thoracic outlet syndrome, "uncommon" tarsal tunnel syndrome, and three "uncommon" spontaneous dislocations at joints that don't normally dislocate without associated trauma). In December of 2014, I had surgery for "uncommon" snapping hip syndrome, and while in Europe last month, I developed an acute case of tendinitis calcarea (calcific tendinitis). Although the condition itself isn't uncommon, my doctor here at home took a look at the x-rays and declared, "I have never seen anything like it. Strange!" :rolleyes: All I could say in response was, "I am my father's daughter..." Yes, I inherited the wrong set of genes. I'm convinced without a shadow of a doubt that if I didn't swim, I would be walking with a cane (or worse) and look like hell. Instead, (as I posted on the "Swim Happy" thread) a couple of ladies from water aerobics class told me that another lady was watching me do yoga on deck after my swim workout and said, "I've seen that young girl at the pool before. She must be visiting her GRANDparents this summer." Needless to say, it made my day! At 54 (55 in January), I'll take being referred to as a "young girl"! I think it's swimming that keeps me looking that way. None of my past or current physical issues were caused by swimming, and swimming has always been the recommended "prescription." That enough is motivating me to overcome my physical challenges and stay healthy. Dory motto: "Keep on swimming! Just keep on swimming!!" Physical issues aside, I love swimming. Every morning I wake up, and I can't wait to get to the pool! Travel (and lack of access to a pool or clean body of water) is the only thing that prevents me from swimming. Even after my hip surgery, I was only dry until the stitches came out and the doctor gave me approval to get wet. I came straight home and swam with a pull buoy. I also love the swimming community! I'm with Waves (above) on his point. Even when I was unable to compete, I loved going to the meet and timing races. It's such a motivating and uplifting atmosphere being at a Masters meet! Physical issues may preclude me from (safely) training at the intensity I did a few years ago-- and, my race times have suffered because of it-- but, I will always believe in my dreams rather than live by my limitations.

I'm relatively new to Master's Swimming (10 months), coming from a background in cycling and martial arts. In all three sports, I have partly done it for fitness and enjoyment. However, what has worked best is to set myself a specific goal that I wasn't capable of doing at the time, but that was achievable by a specific deadline. In the case of swimming, my first goal was to complete a 1500 m open water swim in less than the 40 minute cut-off time by May 21. My current goal is to learn the competition skills & understanding of rules required to compete in my first USMS swim meet by October 30. My other goal is to learn fly.