Show Up & Complete

When I first noticed the line "show up & complete" on a friends exercise blog I thought "what a great motto". After reflecting on this past weekend's events however, I now see the true depth of what the phrase "show up and complete" implies.

On Saturday half a dozen friends completed the Patriot Half Ironman in E. Freetown, MA. While volunteering at the finish I was amazed by the dedication, courage and tenacity of all the finishers. Whether it was in 5 hours or 7, all successfully completed the 1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike and 13.1 mile run. Relief, pain and joy was written on their faces as they crossed the finish line. With only a sparse crowd to cheer them and no notoriety or prizes to receive, all completed their races for the sheer sense of accomplishment that finishing brings. They had already shown up for countless miles on the bike, long training runs and laps of the pool. Now they could take pride in completing 70.3 miles of hard racing.

The following day, Father's Day, I reflected on my husband's role as a supportive and caring father to our two daughters. Whether it is showing up for years of riding lessons, school assemblies, or last minute homework help sessions, he is always there. While "show up" sounds simple, it is more than just a physical presence. Showing up implies being there mentally, emotionally and physically. As all parents know, being present while also scanning emails on your Blackberry won't cut it with the kids. They have an innate ability to detect whether you are really there for them, and will let you know when you are slacking. I am fortunate to have someone who always shows up completely.

To do a task well, daily effort, attention and personal investment are needed. Any triathlete will tell you that half-hearted workouts and unfocused training, no matter how many times you show up, won't get you to the finish. Longer races like a 70.3, quickly sort those who have been fully present in their training from those who have been merely "showing up" very quickly. Getting to complete takes mental as well as physical toughness in triathlon, something which my friends showed in abundance on Saturday. This sense of accomplishment carries through to their daily lives in many ways, whether dealing with complicated family issues or difficult jobs, they know they have the ability to push through obstacles and get what needs to be completed, done.

Some jobs like parenting, are never truly completed, just taken one day, age or stage at a time. Just as many athletes are looking toward their next event almost as soon as they cross the finish, success in any arena means always striving to complete the next day, phase or race better than the last. In racing as in life, this weekend taught me that all you need to do is show up and complete.