The Masters Athlete Survival Guide
We explore thriving as an athlete after 40. Each episode, we’ll dive into tips, hacks, and inspiring stories from seasoned athletes and our personal experience. Whether you’re a weekend warrior or a competitive pro, this podcast is your playbook for staying fit, strong, and motivated
The Masters Athlete Survival Guide
Accountability, Goals and Community Through Masters Athletics
Can setting incremental, skill-based goals be more effective than striving for a singular, monumental outcome? We explore this burning question on the latest episode of the Master's Athlete Survival Guide with your hosts, John Katalinas and Scott Fike. Join us as we dissect the intricate dance between goals and outcomes, particularly for athletes over 40. We delve into the art of crafting realistic, measurable objectives and the importance of small, consistent efforts in maintaining long-term health and fitness. Hear our passionate debate on whether aiming for a national win is as beneficial as focusing on daily, achievable milestones.
Accountability and community support are game-changers in any fitness journey. This episode sheds light on how surrounding yourself with the right people—or even leveraging online groups and fitness apps—can keep you on track. Drawing from Lev Vygotsky's theory of the zone of proximal development, we discuss how to balance comfort and challenge for optimal growth. Hear personal stories that underscore the importance of reassessment, brutal self-honesty, and the value of preparation and technique, especially as we age. We also touch on how to cope when you miss your goals, emphasizing resilience and the importance of adapting your approach.
Ever wondered what it's like to compete in the Columbus Oktoberfest strongman events? We bring you an insider's view, sharing exhilarating experiences of lifting 295-pound kegs and carrying 500-pound frames in front of cheering crowds. Feel the excitement as we recount personal victories, competing against athletes half our age, and drawing inspiration from fellow competitors. This episode is packed with stories of monumental challenges and the satisfaction that comes from achieving personal milestones. Whether you're an aspiring master's athlete or just looking for a burst of inspiration, this episode promises valuable insights and a dash of motivation to fuel your fitness journey.
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New episodes come out every other Thursday!
Welcome to the Master's Athlete Survival Guide, where we explore the secrets to thriving in sports after 40. I'm John Catalinas and, along with Scott Fyke, we'll dive into training tips, nutrition hacks and inspiring stories from seasoned athletes who defy age limits. Whether you're a weekend warrior or a competitive pro, this podcast is your playbook for staying fit, strong and motivated. Let's get started. Fit, strong and motivated, let's get started. And we're back. I'm John, that's Scott, and today we're going to talk about goals and things. Does that sound?
Speaker 2:reasonable.
Speaker 1:Sounds good to me.
Speaker 2:Especially given our age.
Speaker 1:Yeah, now I'm going to start our episode on goals with a thought I had while sitting in my porcelain office. Are we talking about goals? Are we talking about outcomes? Because, like, here's what I did in my head and I don't, I don't know, I may have tripped over my own brain Like, winning nationals for you was a goal, but that's not an athletic goal, that's not a motivation. You know what I mean. That's a. It's not anything you can work towards, like you can put in the work towards the pieces that make up winning an event, but you can't really like. Your goal isn't winning the event. Your goal is to be good enough at the pieces of whatever you're competing in Bowling, baseball, pickleball, all of the balls. You know what I'm saying?
Speaker 2:I do know where you're going. I'm going to disagree with you a little bit. I think they can be tied together.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:You can set a goal that has an outcome, because the outcome is what's measurable, more so or more recognizable than a goal. Is Not that a goal that has an outcome because the outcome is what's measurable, more so or more recognizable than a goal. Is Not that a goal isn't measurable? You can say I want to lose 20 pounds. Well, that's very measurable. In my case, for this year's goal, it was first to qualify and my goal was to podium at nationals qualify and my goal was to podium at nationals.
Speaker 2:Uh, my coach, tony callas who, um, shout out to tony callas, most definitely shout out to tony is he said to me fuck that, you're not gonna just podium, you're going to win. So you've got to set the goal high enough.
Speaker 2:So there is that risk of failure sure you know and in my case you know if my goal was to win, I failed. I came in second. Okay, however, my initial goal of podiuming, it was the process of the mental, the, the sort of the building blocks, and I think that's where I thought was the real work that went into it. So I know where you went Right. I think the two were married together to a great extent, though yeah.
Speaker 1:Now I wonder and where I got to this is is you know, as somehow we end up being, you know people that our contemporaries ask questions of, and you know the one thing was is like how do I, how do I lose weight, how I do, how do I do any of this stuff? And you know we talk about a lot of goals. I think in a couple episodes we've talked about just the 10 minute walk. Is the 10 minute walk? The goal Is the subsequent health, the nebulous here's, here's. Let me get to get to this backwards. Goals can be your worst enemy. Yes, you set six goals, you miss all of them and you give up right, yeah, but I go ahead because I know I don't know where you're going.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I don't know that I have a go-ahead, it's just more of I. I want to come out of this episode saying here's goal setting, here's what goals are and here's sort of a roadmap towards achieving your goals.
Speaker 2:We talked in a previous episode about getting off the couch. I mean, really that's what masters athletes are, unless you've been doing it straight along. I want to be better. I want to be healthier. I want to be able to stand up and walk without pain. I don't want to be confined to a wheelchair before I have to those types of things. I think you do need a goal, but the goal doesn't have to be something that is so Wow. But the goal doesn't have to be something that is so wow, so minutely focused, that it's win nationals, that it's bench 400 pounds, that it's squat 600 pounds, deadlift 700 pounds. It doesn't have to be something that's that intense. It can be. I want to be healthier. To me, the 10-minute walk I don't think the 10 minute walk is a goal. I think consistently working out is a goal, but even that's sort of kind of fuzzy right. I want to feel better. I want to lose weight. Those are your goal has to be measurable right, but it has to be, realistic here.
Speaker 1:Here's why both of us are on this podcast. Um, you're very results focused, driven, laser focused kind of dude ocd. Everything you just said I could justify. Well, I want to be healthier. I'm pretty healthy. I could skip today. Uh, you know, I want to lose weight. Well, I've lost three pounds and yeah, I need to lose 40, but I've lost three and that's not bad, though.
Speaker 2:Twinkies are delicious. Those many steps, john we've talked about this, especially because you're part of me reaching my goals. Yeah, there's going to be times when you go backwards. There really are. You know, I've been in education for 30 years and when I talk to new or incoming teachers, you've got to get to a certain point. With your students it's not always a straight line. You're going up, you're going down, you're going backwards sometimes. Yeah, the goal has to be what causes you to go in certain directions.
Speaker 1:Okay, I accept that. Um, yeah, I just I don't know. I struggle with this because, like and maybe it's time, I don't know what the factor is where a goal is feels more like a wish or a dream than a goal. So maybe that's it. Maybe there needs to be a time factor into some of it. For example, you set the Strongman Nationals goal that had an inherent time goal. You had to be good by X and being good by X sort of set the whole timeline for I need these many trainings. I need these many sets and reps. Good by X and being good by X sort of set the whole timeline for I need these many trainings. I need these many sets and reps. I, you know I need to hit these events these many times. Maybe that's a big part of it.
Speaker 1:Is is time, um, and maybe that's where you can like I played with the concept of micro goals you know, like get off the couch and get outside for 10 minutes, do the 10 minute walk, do the 30 minute walk, go to the gym, go to the gym for 15 minutes, do four sets of five of something and call it a day.
Speaker 2:Yes, I'm glad you added that last part of it, because just do four sets of five or do X of Y, just saying I want to do something. If you're doing nothing, okay, your goal is to do something every day. That's great, that's a positive step. If you say I'm going to go to the gym, Okay, I walked in the gym, I walked around the track once the micro goals in my mind help lead to larger goals. You know you've got to set those sort of success steps along the way, because if you don't have them, you know. Like you said, I lost three pounds. I mean my goal is to lose weight. I lost three pounds. Twinkies are good.
Speaker 1:Twinkies are good, by the way.
Speaker 2:This podcast has not been sponsored by Twinkies.
Speaker 1:They're just good, I wouldn't know. This podcast has not been sponsored by Twinkies. They're just good, I wouldn't know.
Speaker 2:But you're going to have those days when you say, oh you know, by this point I thought I'd have lost 15 pounds, you lost three. Right, you've moved forward. You've got to have those micro goals to meet the larger goals. And sometimes you know, you said is it a wish or a dream? Yeah, why are those different? I don't know that a dream that I'm going to X, y or Z is different than setting a goal for myself.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I guess, but I guess the the difference is a goal feels like there's action tied to it, whereas a dream is, you know, literally I have this great thought about how I'm going to win the Olympics. Um, I guess that's where I find the division between those two. I think, I don't know. Comment down below. Tell us what you think a goal is. Yeah, because I think goal setting is A underrated and B overrated. I think you need a goal. We talk about getting off the couch, but without a motivation. Every athlete, every person that participates in sports, and you know what, if you're competing in Masters, something, you're an athlete because you've done the pieces. So give yourself credit if you're doing something.
Speaker 1:And it doesn't even have to be on a national stage. I mean, if you're in a bowling league.
Speaker 1:If you're a local rec basketball, you're an athlete. You are 100%, yeah, I mean, and you can take all the facets of being an athlete as seriously as you like nutrition, training, stretching, you know all the improvements, Um. But I think having a goal gets you off the couch in a meaningful way, but not having a goal should probably not impinge on you getting off the couch, because there's absolutely nothing wrong with you know, general physical preparedness, Going to the gym and walking on the treadmill for 15 minutes and doing a couple things that you enjoy At the simplest level, though, john, that's a goal.
Speaker 2:Yeah, getting off the couch.
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:Yeah, you're right, you're right, it just depends on how detailed, how deep, how focused you want your goal to be.
Speaker 1:Yeah, but I guess the next thing is and this is how I've achieved most of my master's athletic goals is a community and sharing a goal out loud. I'm definitely externally motivated and people like you other people I've trained with as soon as you say I want to, to win this, I want to qualify for this. Um, it makes it real and again, for me there is no more better accountability than external accountability. You know a loved one turning to you and saying hey, I thought you go to the gym on tuesdays.
Speaker 2:It's tuesday why are you here? It it's easy to lie to yourself. It is so easy to lie to yourself. You know, in a future podcast we'll talk about when things come off the rails. You know the idea of working a 13 hour day, in your case, being in the field for two weeks straight. You know. But you're right. I think setting that community around yourself is such an important part of setting goals.
Speaker 1:Right, and the community can be. I mean, especially today, community can be anything. Community can be a training partner like you and I. The community could be a Facebook group. It could be Instagram friends that you've not necessarily ever really met, you know, or or know them very loosely. Uh, there are plenty of ways to bookmark accountability. Um, then there's, you know, if you want to drift into the things like apps, you know there's a. There's a few apps out there that will keep you. You know, hey, it's Tuesday, this is what you do on Tuesdays and check this box when you've completed it.
Speaker 1:Um, and there is a dark side of that. I think, all the accountability, I think there's a dark side where you start to amass missed workouts and you clearly aren't on a trajectory to hit your goal. I think that's where a lot of people either quit, give up, get frustrated. You just need to reassess. It's a hundred percent, maybe. You just need to reassess 100%. Maybe it's going to take longer, maybe your goal wasn't a great goal to start with. There's a lot right. I mean. You don't need to get it right out of the gate.
Speaker 2:I think constant reassessment is probably a big factor in all that I agree with you, is probably a big factor in all that I agree with you. The older you get, the more realistic we tend to be in looking at what our expectations are or what others' expectations of us might be. That's a huge factor to me. It's what can I do to, you know, to get philosophical Lev Vygotsky talks about it and going just past that level of comfortability. That's where you've got to put yourself just a little bit past it and that's where your friends come in, that's where those apps come in. And you're right, there are times, I mean, I can remember in the previous year, when I would go a week and I wouldn't have a workout. And for me, you know, that's that's a huge number. It could be. You know, I could have missed three or four workouts over the course of a week. You know major workouts, plus then the walking and whatnot.
Speaker 2:It's the reassessment, it's the rededication. You know it's kind of what you're talking about. It's the rededication. It's kind of what you're talking about. It's calling the people who are your group, whether it's your significant other, whatever form that takes, whether it's your workout partners. You show up at the gym and you look over there and your workout partner is giving you the eye, like what the heck are you doing? Where have you been? What's going on? I feel seen.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that's me to a t? Um, before we go too much farther on behalf of our listeners, who says what I feel like we've referred to a 14th century estonian philosopher and just glossed right over it. For those of us that aren't phds? Um who? Lev vagotsky no that's two words yes, it's actually his name's, not like bob lev vagotsky.
Speaker 2:No, that's his first name is lev. Okay, his last name is vagotsky. Okay, his theory is called the zone of proximal development.
Speaker 2:Oh and which is basically, you've got three levels in working in the supremely and educational thing. You've got that level of comfortability. You've got the next, which is the zone of proximal development, where it's just outside of you being comfortable, where you're a little uncomfortable. You got to push just a little bit and then you've got that level that basically turns you off. I'm going to qualify for the Olympics in the next year. Good luck with it, steve, it's not going to happen. Just enough to push you a little bit. It's a huge thing that we work with teachers, with oh okay, All right.
Speaker 1:So for anybody taking notes at home, that's Lev has levels. We'll just boil that down to Lev has levels. Level one is your thing, Level two is a stretch and level three? Let's just give up on level three.
Speaker 2:It's sort of like what you do when we are trying to do three level maxes we go into a comp or something and it's like the first one yeah, I'm gonna get this. The second one it's a little bit of a stretch, but I should be okay.
Speaker 1:Okay, the third one this is a pr baby oh, so basically you're saying that I am inherently a 14th century estonian philosopher? Or 20th century russian philosopher yeah him too whatever, I must have him confused with a different lev levikowski. Sorry, yes, sorry, I don't know, I'm not up on my current philosophy. I'm still working in the 14th century. Whatever, read more. Yeah, I read as fast as I can. I'm only in the 14th century.
Speaker 2:It's a lot of centuries, you know there are more pictures as you get past.
Speaker 1:That trust me, oh no um, so in the toolkit, what do you do when you miss a goal, like, I mean, we've all been there. You get out of a comp and it just didn't work for all the reasons. You didn't sleep well, you were ill-prepared. I think ill-prepared is one of the dirty little secrets right, where you really can lie to yourself is well, two years ago I could do this and yeah, I haven't been going to the gym, but I probably can lift this now. And you can't.
Speaker 2:I can speak to it from my side, okay. I mean, I had this conversation with you and Mark and Ronnie. When I came back, was I happy. Yes, was very happy, enjoyed my experience. When you came back from Nationals I'm sorry, strongman Nationals, Okay, called Tony Tony was very happy with the results. Tony is the trainer. Shout out again to Tony Callis, former national champion. Um, I said to him I'm not done, I made some mistakes. I spent the night, you know, at uh in Denver and I was happy, I celebrated, you know, I did my thing. And then the next day, on what was a long trip home, I started doing an analysis. That's the biggest part to me, you know, and maybe it's my OCD tendencies, maybe it's a lifetime in education. I call it a Clint East eastwood the good, the bad, the ugly. What did I do right? What did I do wrong? What should I never do again?
Speaker 1:in my life so it was.
Speaker 2:You know, and I have my analysis and we'll talk about that, I think, down the road when we talk about some of the comps we've done, but it's what would you do different? And it it's. It's sort of that self reflection, as much as it is a reflection of the process. Okay, so we fix it for next time. We reassess our goals. If you didn't make your goal, okay, what do I need to do to make the next goal? What are the micro steps that I need to take?
Speaker 1:The micro goals, the little ones those are the ones that sort of keep you going along the path, and that is so important. You know, I hear us as, as we're saying this out loud, I think what I'm hearing is brutal. Self-honesty is is a incredible tool in a toolkit, because you can lie to yourself and not get anywhere near where you'd expect to be or get really frustrated, which why you aren't where you're supposed to be again because of that.
Speaker 1:So, but I think, like you just said, um, you know, a big lever to improvement is some honesty, right, like I didn't do this, I didn't do enough of this. You know, it could be anything from technique to preparedness to. I wish I had brought more water because it was hot. Again, if you're in a bowling league and you suddenly realize that you can't drop the kids off, do 10 minutes of work, watch 30 minutes of TV and then run to the bowling alley and expect to be fine, when you need 10 minutes to just grease the joints and move a little bit first.
Speaker 2:That's a great point. Two things to that number one, I think, as we get older and our masters athletes, you're right there are more of us that are sort of stretching and walking and, and you know, in my case, with my bum shoulder, swinging my arms in small circles just to grease the joints. The other side of it is you talked about brutal honesty, you're right, you can lie to yourself. Oh, he was just better than me today. He was this, he was that Maybe. But that's why we get back to what we talked about previously Surround yourself with people who are real. Surround yourself with those that love you dearly and they really are family to you. But they're going to say, scott, you looked like crap, right, you should have done this, you could have done that. And that's where a lot of the stuff that professional athletes have it over us by a mile with the film that they watch and whatnot. Now with the phones and everything else where you can take videos, that helps. But again I get back to surround yourself with the right people.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and I think I think at competitions when you and I have both been at one, I think we're we're certainly not avoiding screaming at each other, you know, during an event or between events, like hey, do you remember how you had to do this? Do that.
Speaker 2:You always say it no, think of your cues.
Speaker 1:Yep, yep, I mean, that's your, your the line that always goes through my head when I'm doing something, yeah, and that that literally comes from oh my god, as a collegiate shot putter, I I won warm-ups, I was the best at warm-ups. Oh my god, I would have my. I'm sure I have a pr that's probably five feet farther than anything ever through in competition in warm-ups. I'm absolutely positive of it because I would leave it all then and it was such a thing, and then I would get in a competition and man, it's not going as far and Joe Blow threw farther than me and he's never thrown farther and it was a PR for him and he's got all the energy and yeah, so that's where I sort of got the.
Speaker 1:You know, go in with your cues, whatever they may be, whatever your sport is, and you know, just execute. I mean so many, especially non-team master sports, and by team I mean things. You're have an opposing team basketball, hockey, hockey, flag football, yeah something where you know there's someone trying to oppose your efforts. The rest of it's a spreadsheet. Um competition, when it really comes down to it, you know I'm throwing shot put, you're throwing shot put. I throw 60 feet, you throw 61 feet. Neither of us had any influence on the other. You beat me, but you had no control over my performance.
Speaker 2:I think one of the things that we need to discuss a little bit here, maybe in much more depth down the road, is, as you get older, in some of the sports, especially some of the niche sports that you and I participate in strongman, highland, grip, arm lifting there are fewer and fewer people in your class and it's not unusual at times in local competitions or at some state-level competitions, to walk in and you're the only person. Now, hey, congratulations, you podiumed, you took first place. Good for you. How did you do? Right? That's part of what that goal has to be and I think that's where that sort of you know my goal this year of podiuming, or you know the, the modified of winning.
Speaker 2:I think that's where you're right. That is out of your control, because I can't control what John Catalinas does when he's up there on the podium lifting something. So part of the goal has to be that sort of self-push. Okay, I did 10 repetitions, I need to get to 12. Or I was picking up the stone, I need to one motion the stone, whatever, right? So I think that's part of it, because I mean, let's be honest, how many times have you or I been in a show where you at the under 110 kilo, me at the above 110 right we're the only two masters athletes there.
Speaker 1:You know it's funny as you were saying that, I was thinking the exact opposite as opposed to, like you know, trying to reach the podium in a master's event you know the Columbus Oktoberfest strongman.
Speaker 2:Oh my God Shout out to the Oktoberfest and. Sean.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and all those guys, sean and Steve and Steve and Chad, robbie Robbie. God bless you. Strong men where, on paper, we didn't have the skill set some of those 20 somethings.
Speaker 2:That was it. Those guys were 20, we were 50, right, right, and we held our own, and you know we brought, I think, our own facets to the thing.
Speaker 1:But at that point, we're entertainment yeah, the best part of the columbus october fest has to be well, it's a. There's so many facets that made that great.
Speaker 2:The first is it's a great event, right, and it's just a spectacle a large amount of people drinking beer, watching people lift heavy things well, the first year we were there because, I mean, we came to it basically from the highland mentality, when your entertainment and that's a true statement whereas drinking is not discouraged, it's not encouraged on a highland field. They don't want to see it happen, right? So we approached sean and sean urquhart, who is at some point we got to talk to.
Speaker 1:Sean sean is an unbelievably talented still is he talented or does he just hate stones and doesn't like where they are, so he needs to pick them up, look underneath them and then put them back down. That's what I think it's possible.
Speaker 2:I think he's looking for snakes, but the size of the stones he's lifting. Well, bigger snakes, bigger snakes. Okay, we approached sean who said you know what's what's sort of the thought on drinking because we're at an october fest. He looks at us and goes it's highly encouraged, yeah, and we knew we were hooked at that point. But I mean, let's talk, talk about the, the tent at the end with the very yeah, and then in this.
Speaker 1:So the oktoberfest hides two goals, one for each of us. For me, it literally was to get through events without zeroing and doing things like a what was it? 295 pound stone over bar keg keg, was it keg? Um, that was monumental for me and I was amazed that I got it. And then you got yelled at by steve slater for not doing more and nothing like the you know the godfather of stone the premier fabricator of all things stone and log, yelling at you like you know. You really should do more yeah, thanks steve, I felt really motivated.
Speaker 1:And then the, the frame, the beady, the oh, the josh just made yes 500 pound monolith yeah carrying that across stage, which again I got yelled at by my training partner that I probably should have turned around and did another pass. But I accomplished two goals there and it felt great and to have I don't know a thousand fifteen hundred people in that little amphitheater cheering.
Speaker 2:Yeah, at that point.
Speaker 1:Oh, those are the things that, at the end of the day, is why you do it. But the other goal on Scott's side was the… the Bavarian deadlift.
Speaker 2:Yeah, what's the name of the stone? The first year, the Steinen… I don't remember the lift side of it now my Bavarian is slipping. The first year we went, it was an actual stone connected to a chain and we went up there and and I'm a I was a decent dead lifter. What?
Speaker 1:do you mean? Was what happened? Did your deadlift fall?
Speaker 2:it. This mega stone, 508 pounds, is connected to a chain on a ring and because it's bavarian, that means that you're lifting from a depth. The depth was down by my ankles, so as we went to pick it up, I basically stood up and then had to try to do a good morning and we looked at the video later. The grief that you gave me for it was unbelievable.
Speaker 2:So then that was my goal. So I talked to my coach and I said this is my goal. Well, they created a machine that was kind of resembled the Smith machine, so it's in one sort of up and down plane and the things I've seen from you know October fests in Europe it's a little more traditional.
Speaker 1:It's a big, heavy something in a slot. You know, between two boxes they stand on. Exactly Between two boxes they stand on.
Speaker 2:Exactly. And we got there and I started pulling. It wasn't moving. I realized I was pulling against the actual steel. So I moved forward and this thing went up and as it got to the top, out of the corner of my eye I can see Chad cheering, I can see Sean cheering, I can see both the Steves clapping for me. Robbie's got this look like he's smiling at me and I just start screaming.
Speaker 2:Sure, when you reach a goal, especially when you reach a goal in front of 5 000 drunk people standing in front of you, this massive beer hall, it was unbelievable. But that's the sort of almost like drug addiction, like version of goals. When you hit your personal goal, it's unbelievable, but you know, you hit on this master's athletes. Okay, it's just the two of us. The next guy closest to us, I think, was in his early forties. Most of these guys that were competing were in their twenties, let's face it. We were there. We had the right to be there. We moved the weights, we didn't zero, but we went in there and we were there. We had the right to be there. We moved the weights, we didn't zero, but we went in there and we were there for entertainment, to show things as well.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I this sounds super conceited and I certainly don't mean it this way, but I have nothing wrong with inspiring people like you know, throwing the 100, whatever is 140 pound stone for distance. You know, I had a couple people come up to me. How much does that weigh? How old are you? Um, I have no problem saying I'm really old and I'm pleased that I can pick it up and move it an inch. And did I win that event? No, do I actually know how far I threw?
Speaker 2:no, do I know that?
Speaker 1:four and a half inches. Oh, he always remembers stuff, but I threw it um, and that's really, that's really it, and that's really, that's really it. And and that's another part of it too. I mean, you remember in crazy detail. You know you're lifting the Bavarian stone. How high did you throw that? The keg for bar? That day he's going to remember, which is going to ruin my point.
Speaker 2:It was like 20 feet.
Speaker 1:It was shorter shorter, actually, the second year than it was the first year. The first year I hit 21. See, my point was going to be that sometimes reaching your goals makes the other goals along the way slightly less important, even though they are very important I have ocd folks but he ruined it and remember stuff.
Speaker 1:That's, that's. I have goldfish memory shout out to ted lasso, um. So I actually don't remember how I did in those other events, but I remember carrying the fame. I remember lifting the keg, although a minute until a minute ago I thought it was a stone, so maybe I don't even remember that but I think the neat thing was you're right the number of people throughout the two years we competed there.
Speaker 2:That would come up to us afterwards hey, I saw you on the stage. Hey, I saw you when you're over there doing this and just talk to you. I'm going to try that next year. Or we encourage them to try the amateur version on the sunday, because the amateurs are allowed to to go on and compete in some of these events. It's that's part of it too. So you talk about that inspirational side of it. I think that's. You know. We do it for ourselves in many, many reasons. You know whether it's to get healthy, whether it's, you know, more personal, like in my instance, or or whatever. But I think part of it is just sharing that we're trying to help other people become the best versions of themselves too. Yeah, because they want. I'm happy when other people succeed. Right, I would rather someone else get credit and glory for doing something that makes them feel better, that accomplish their goal, than anything else.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and I think that's why a lot of my contemporary athletes and friends are coaches. A lot of them are high school coaches, some are collegiate. Uh, they find great satisfaction in that, whereas they don't necessarily feel the need to train, but they definitely feel the need to inspire. Um, and sort of an interesting aside, and this is one of those john catalina's life lessons. So, collegiate shot putting senior year I finished 15th in the nation top 12 went to nationals for a shot at top eight, which is all-american. Um, and I. I did not deserve all-american. There were so many people better than I, but the I.
Speaker 1:I credit the not achieving all-american my senior year of college as the number one reason that I'm willing to do anything else as a Masters athlete.
Speaker 1:I think if I had achieved that goal, it probably would have put out a lot of the fire, a lot of the desire, certainly given me an arrow in the quiver of yeah, I was great back then. I don't need to be average now. Um, I think that was both humbling and eye-opening and I think it, you know, as a 20 something, you're really sort of performance motivated. I want to, I want to set this record, I want to beat that guy I want to be, you know, I want to be the man, uh, masters athletes I mean there, there is that, there absolutely is that. And you know, we, we both know national champions that deserve it, that worked for it very much, um, but I, I think there's more masters athletes that just are completely happy with. I went on the field today, I competed, competed, I gave it my all. The numbers landed where they were and I'm going home with my head hell high and I think that's the magic of competing in any sport over 40.
Speaker 2:Well, look at our friend today, mark. Oh yeah. Shout out to Mark Taylor, shout out to Mark Taylor Out in Delaware competing in a veteran suicide awareness games, yep Pushed himself, did what he loves to do supporting a group that he loves to support. Yep, that's a huge win, I mean. And we told himself yeah, he's phenomenally proud of what he did. Yeah, no, absolutely.
Speaker 1:Yeah, Again. His goals for that event had almost nothing to do with winning. It had everything to do with competing and supporting and standing up for a cause that he cared about and sharing time with his wife. I think that's an underrated thing the fact that he was able to go to this event with his wife and spend the day and I think it's a male thing. I apologize that I think it's a male thing, but I think it's a male thing that we like to look good in front of our spouses.
Speaker 2:Well and Tracy for taking that trip. Yeah, they drove out yesterday, drove home today.
Speaker 1:That's another thing. It takes a special spouse to stand in a parking lot all day and watch you sweat and cry and you know, almost pass out, almost pass out more than once and then have to get in the car with my I'm assuming, since there weren't showers in that parking lot my smelly butt, coming back home nine hours stiffening, thirsty, crabby, tired, probably can't drive because I'm probably nodding off. That makes any relationship stronger, because that's important. Your wife can be as much of a teammate as an actual training partner.
Speaker 2:I kind of think that brings us full circle, back to where we started this whole thing. You set your goals. You have to surround yourself with the people that are going to keep you humble, keep you honest and keep supporting and pushing you there. They're your, they're your judges, but they're also your cheerleaders, right? I think that's the biggest thing that I take out of today's conversation is set your goals, whatever they are. Set your goals, whatever they are. Set your goals, but make sure that your goals have reachable milestones and you have the right people around you.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I I you know, I think. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think that is a great place to call it a day, because I think we did bring the the discussion full circle and that you know In the comments. Feel free to let us know what else would you have added to this conversation and what we can address in the future. But for now, I am still John. He is still Scott. Yes, I am, and thanks for listening. Thanks for listening. If you enjoyed this episode and you'd like to help support the podcast, please share it with others, post it on your social media or leave a review. To catch all the latest from us, you can follow us on Instagram at Masters Athlete Survival Guide. Thanks again. Now get off our lawn, you damn kids.