Arrow Living is a “motto, mindset and way of life,” based on the quote:
An arrow can only be shot by pulling it backwards. So when life is dragging you back with difficulties, it means that it’s going to launch you into something great. So just focus, and keep aiming.
Friends!
Is it really already AUGUST? Where on earth did the time go? It feels like just yesterday I was happily quarantined with my husband in our home in sunny Florida. We’ve been back in the northeast for about two months now, and, as much as I love the Florida palm trees and sun, Philly, to me, is still home.
A brief rowing-related update:
When the coronavirus first hit the U.S., I was incredibly fortunate to be able to stay on the water and keep training. I linked up with two awesome training partners and literally did not miss a beat. The disconnect between what was going on in the world compared to my personal day-to-day, which remained mostly unchanged, was strange, to be honest. But that’s a conversation for another day.
With a garage full of strength training equipment on loan and complete access to my boat, I banged out roughly two full training cycles between when things started shutting down and when Kyle and I packed up to head north in mid-June. Our drive was uneventful (i.e., the best possible kind), and the plan for the rest of the summer looked something like this: spend a few days at my mom and dad’s; resume training in DC for about four weeks; and then end the “season” with a mini-camp in Boston, which would include some unofficial racing and a formal way to cap off the year.
Well, as the saying goes, even the best-laid plans often go awry. Despite my best efforts to rest, recover and optimize my nutrition and hydration, I was not acclimating to the heat in DC. It is possible that my body just needed more time to adjust. But frankly, I wasn’t that interested in finding out whether or not that was the case. The risk was too great and unnecessary: With no official racing in sight, it did not make sense to risk compromising my body and jeopardizing all the great training I had just worked so hard to bank. Which brings me to here: happily home on the Schuylkill, training with the team at Penn AC.
Looking ahead
I don’t know what’s in store for the fall yet. My eyes are set on Tokyo, and in some ways it feels more within my grasp than ever before. But, admittedly, I am still missing a very key piece! (Read: partner in crime for the double). So, for now, I am remaining focused on increasing fitness, improving technique and keeping my quality of training high. I’ve missed working with my coach at Penn AC so getting his feedback on the water again has been energizing. And, generally speaking, I’ve been doing my best to keep the overall vision in sight while staying more keenly focused on taking steps forward – no matter how big or small – each day.
Wow!
That was a MUCH longer recap and update than planned! The real reason I popped on to write was to share the awesome conversation I had with the even more awesome Kendall Johnson, retired professional soccer player turned blogger, podcast host, coach and mentor. Kendall reached out to me this past spring and invited me to be a guest on her show. I immediately said, “Yes!” and only later suffered – I mean: enjoyed! – all the nerves and discomfort that go along with doing something new. Needless to say, I had an absolute blast talking to Kendall and hope to have a chance to appear on a podcast again!
Here are the talking points from Kendall’s show notes:
In today’s episode Cara talks about:
• The most critical component of being a top athlete;
• How writing helps her show up her best in her sport;
• Where her incessant desire to learn comes from-including her recommended books and podcasts;
• Her process of developing confidence;
• How life experience has made her a better athlete at 37 than she was in her 20s;
• “Confidence is a learned skill that you can develop overtime;”
• And more!
To listen to the podcast, click here. Or, subscribe to The Arrow Living Female Athlete podcast on iTunes.
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