According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, grit is "firmness of character; indomitable spirit". Angela Duckworth, a leading psychology researcher, tweaked the definition and considers it to be "perseverance and passion for long-term goals".

​

We know grit well. We've seen it in our competitors and peers - the ones you admire because they have unshakable spirit.

 

Grit is the hours in the pool aqua-jogging when your achilles is too sore to walk on and you have Olympic trials in ten months. It's doing one more hill sprint carrying a bucket of concrete on a Sunday morning because you know this is your weakness. It's showing up for training and choosing to "stay ready" in the midst of a pandemic, even though your races have been cancelled. Because it isn't really about the race, is it? It's choosing to prioritize fitness and wellness when life feels crazy. It's lacing up your shoes in the heat of the summer or the cold of the winter, knowing that discomfort now leads to joy later.

 

It's getting brutally beaten, failing a workout, or suffering an injury, and then learning, healing, and adapting, coming back stronger than ever.

​

Most of all, it's enjoying the process, embracing the grind, and never ever questioning if it's worth it. It's embracing the privilege of a healthy body and strong mind.