This past weekend my older son Levi went away to Whistler for a training camp and coaching session with Todd Schumlick the PeformX Commencal Racing Team Coach. This was a big weekend, not only for Levi, but for my wife and me. Receiving coaching and direction from a highly acclaimed Canada and World Cup DownHill Racing coach was obviously the high point of the weekend for Levi, but for his mother and me the fact that Levi did this on his own — he drove up to Whistler, found the gym, met up with Todd, trained and learned all weekend and drove back – was also a big step in helping our son grow into a young man. The best part of the weekend for me was the talk I had with Levi when he returned. His answer to my question: What was the main thing that you took away from the weekend, confirm that he definitely is growing into an insightful and focused young man. The following highlights are copied directly from Levi’s PerformX Training Camp blog post:
I need to do it on my own.
Nobody can get stronger or faster but myself.
I need to put the time and effort into training.
In addition to recognizing that he is personally responsible for his success or failure he also recognizes that he has to do the work. Starting tomorrow, Levi begins a very focused nine week weight and cardio regime complete with monitoring his heart rate on the base building rides and also intense interval training. He will also be learning about and implementing a nutritional plan and rounding out his work by focusing on building his metal toughness by studying In Pursuit of Excellence. All this is on top of his final semester of grade twelve in which he has to complete English, Math and Biology 30.
Perhaps the most exciting part about this whole experience is that this is Levi’s choice, his commitment and his opportunity to move a few steps closer to his big dream. Witnessing your son start down the path of significant delayed gratification that leads to an extreme goal is exciting but it is also sobering. He recognizes that he needs to do the work on building his strength, skill and mental fortitude on his own and that he needs to put the time and effort into training, but I also hope he has learned that he is not alone. Todd is coaching him toward the World Cup podium but that doesn’t mean that our job as parents is diminished in any way. On the contrary, supporting Levi in this new journey will more than likely be even more challenging than what we have faced so far. Fortunately, we are not alone either. With our faith in God, the support of our family and friends and the fact that over the many years of changes and moves we have experienced Divine serendipity, I think that the next few years of Levi’s and the Harapnuik family’s journey will be interesting and exciting, to say the least.
