Phelps

I just love me a good Olympic race. I jump up from the couch and cheer on my favored athlete to victory. For a few moments, I shoulder their competition, their frustration, their joy.

[Then Jack calmly reminds me I'm in the presence of other human beings and can I please keep it down?]

I heart the Olympics. Every two years, whether in summer or winter, we get to watch athletes who have sacrificed EVERYTHING to reach the pinnacle of their physical fitness for their chosen sport. I cannot imagine the sacrifice; although, that Visa commercial (broadcast 296 times) talks about how so-and-so hasn't ordered dessert in two years and hasn't watched television since 2001.

Okay, point taken. But why are you making the television-watching masses feel guilty since you haven't watched tv in years?

(insert "LOL" here).

However, it's so inspiring to me to watch the Olympics. I involuntarily tear up when someone like Missy Franklin wins the gold in swimming. I cringe when the medal favorites blow it in the gymnastic all-around. I celebrate when Kerry and Misty May roll over their opponents as though they're playing middle school teams.

Yes, I even cheer for Michael Phelps, who, to the untrained eye, looks a little cocky. Dude, we know you are worth millions and have broken all records for the number of medals accumulated by a single athlete. But you withdrew from the integrity bank because of your 'last dance with Mary Jane.'

I'm just sayin'!

He's a tremendous athlete. And a savant in swimming. We won't see another Phelps in our lifetimes. But he motivates me. Word is, he swims every single day of the year. On Christmas morning, when I'm snuggled up in my jammies and robe, sipping some flavorful coffee, he's swimming laps in some gym across the country.

It makes me realize that I really can make time to go to the gym during a busy week. If these people can train hours a day, I can squeeze in a half hour workout. No excuses!

It also inspires me to strive for excellence. Second place means nothing to most of the athletes. It's "go Gold or go home." I watched several athletes cry on the medal stand, having come within .001 of a gold medal.

We all want to win the gold, right?

So I challenge us to this question...what is your gold medal race? What race will you enter in the next year where silver will not satisfy you. You want gold. You need gold.

What are you going to do to become the gold medalist?