What's Your Motivation?

I am competitive to say the least. My friends often say that sometimes I am too competitive. Is there such a thing? I don't know, but where does this competitive drive come from? What fuels me to push on and strive to excel?

For example, SUNY Cortland requires that all P.E. majors complete the Outdoor Adventure Education for Teachers class at Raquette Lake (PED 308). Part of the course involves a 5 day extended wilderness trip where students choose what type of trip they would like to go on depending on their abilities and preference. There were many choices for us to choose from including 90% paddling (canoeing), 50/50, Peaks & Paddle, High Peaks Moderate, and High Peaks Intense. After taking some time to think about it, I decided that I wanted to push myself; test myself if you will. I signed up for High Peaks Intense. I was excited and nervous all at the same time. What motivated me to sign up for this trip? Was it the thrill of pushing myself? Was it the people in the peanut gallery whispering that the intense trip will be too hard? Maybe it was my friend Shawn, pumping me up to go home having hiked more high peaks than all of my hiking buddies who have been going longer than I have. Who knows?

The day before the trip I met with my group members and our instructor and TA who would be going on the trip with us. We formed our team, Team 18, and discussed the goals for the trip after some team building exercises on the high and low ropes courses. We really began to bond during these exercises and learned about the many strengths and weaknesses of our team and the individuals within the team. That night we were all very excited about the trip. In planning the trip with our instructor, we decided that we were very motivated and we wanted to try to do something that noone else in the sixty year history of the program has ever done. We wanted to hike 18 Adirondack high peaks in 4.5 days. The previous record was 15 high peaks as an entire group, and the individual record was 16 high peaks. I think that was a huge source of motivation for my team and for myself. Going down in Cortland history among 60 years of Physical Education majors has to be motivating and quite an achievement. That's what I kept thinking all night long before the trip. I was also thinking 'What am I nuts? Are we all nuts? Obviously there is a reason the record is what it is. This is going to be brutal.'

Without getting into too much detail, 6 out of us 8 team members hiked 18 of the Adirondack Mountain high peaks. The other 2 hiked 6 mountains. There were many times along the way where I began thinking 'Why did I sign up for this? This is too hard. I want to quit.' I never succumbed to those thoughts, however. I remember one point in particular that was a major test of my drive and desire to complete this task. We had just climbed Mt. Marcy (the highest point in New York State) for the second time, we had to go over it to get to get to other peaks, and my instructor who was following behind me noticed some bruising on the back of my knees. After further examination, we noticed that there was quite a bit of fluid building up in my knees and the backs of both of my knees were very bruised from overuse. At that point, my instructor looked at me and said, "Maybe we should call it for you (end my climbing). What do you think?" I looked at him and told him," I'm getting my 18 mountains. I'll take it day by day because I don't want to risk permanent damage, but I think I'll be o.k. and I want 18." At that moment, I knew I had it in me and I was going to achieve my goal. He gave me the okay and after 7 more high peaks I achieved my goal. I hiked 18 high peaks in 4.5 days.

That was by far the most grueling, brutal, and challenging physical activity that I have ever done. In the end, I think it was the one of the most rewarding and exhilarating experiences of my life so far. But what drove me to thrive, with all of the forces against me achieving my goal pushed me to succumb? There were many motivating factors. There was the intrinsic reward and the beauty all around me. There were the whispers of others in my head that I heard saying 'You can't do 18. That's crazy. That's way too hard.' There was the support and desire of my entire team wanting to achieve this goal together. I give them a lot of the credit. Without those guys with me, I never would've been able to accomplish this feat. However, my biggest inspiration was my fiancee and my family at home. Before I left for the trip, I wrote my lady a letter and in the letter I told her that I was going to make her proud and break the record and hike 18 high peaks. When I was out on this trip, I thought about achieving this goal and making her proud of me for making it. I also thought of my Mom. My mom is an amazing woman with more drive and determination and she exhibits more selflessness than any other person I have ever known of in my life. I wanted to make her proud too. I knew that when I came home and told her of my adventure that she would be proud of me. Who doesn't want to make mama proud? I also thought of my Dad and his love of the Adirondacks and how proud he would be. My other motivating factor was my 5 younger brothers and sisters. I wanted to set an example for them and show them that with hard work and determination, anything is possible. This is what motivates me to excel.

What motivates YOU?

Whitewater Rafting and Hiking Ampersand

Hiking is a sport that improves many aspects of health Not only will it improve physical health, but the mental and social health benefits are equally rewarding. Many people classify hiking and kayaking and other sports of this nature as “individual” sports, but I find that it can be as much of a team sport as you want it to be. For me, it is a group sport, and I prefer it when it is just my fiancee and I. I like it as a couples sport I guess. Over the past few years, my lady and I have really got into hiking and have developed a real passion for it. It is a great activity that we can share and reap all of the benefits that go along with it.

Recently, we took a whitewater rafting and hiking trip with three other couples, whom are all either related or really close friends with us. It was quite the bonding experience for all of us as a group and especially for me and my girl.

Imagine three days in the wilderness with only the company of your loved ones and the beauty of nature to enjoy. No real cell phone reception, no traffic, and no worries. It was great! We started off with a group whitewater rafting trip, where we all worked together to maneuver down the Black River through the rapids. “3 forward!” the river guide shouted, instructing us all to paddle 3 strokes forward. The thrusts of power we exerted propelled us down the river heading right for some rapids.
“Who wants to try to surf this one?” He asked. “Yea, let's do it” we all bellowed back. After going through the rapid, we turned ourselves around and paddled with all of our might following the commands given to head straight back into the rapid from behind. Once we finally got into it, it was hold on fall in. All form and technique flew out the window in exchange for grab onto whomever and whatever to keep yourself in the raft.For a minute there, I was actually being held in the raft by the raging water slamming on top of me and pushing me into the bottom of the raft. Before I knew it the raft spun out about 90 degrees and I was out of it, in the rapid itself curled up in a ball waiting to be spit out. I'm not going to lie, I was scared for a second.
I made it out okay, looked at my crew, half of whom were in the water with me, and remember yelling to them all “That was AWESOME!” Once we all made it back in the raft the guide called for a paddle check and we all raised our paddles and shouted “Sharkbait hoo ha ha!” a goofy team chant we made up before the event. What a great time we all had.

The next day we woke up bright and early and got ready for another adventure. We drove to the trailhead of Ampersand Mountain. Here we started as a group, but since we all had different paces it ended up more of a couples hike. My girl and I spent most of the hike talking and enjoying the beauty of the hike, sweating and keeping pretty good pace all the way up to the summit. What a view. We must have spent 20 minutes sitting atop the mountain in silence, sitting next to eachother, just enjoying the company of eachother and the majestic beauty of the Adirondacks.
The outdoors can provide many health benefits and probably more benefits when activities are shared with a partner or group. Take hiking for example. Hiking is great calorie burner, cardiovascular workout, and terrific for building leg muscle. This also provides many opportunities to bond with your partner, with nature, and provides a multitude of opportunities to get in touch with yourself and time for personal reflection. These are all terrific for your mental and social health. There are so many benefits that it is hard to name them all. So next time you are looking for a great exercise and way to spend time with your partner, go for a hike, climb a mountain or go rafting down a river. I guarantee you won't regret it.